Texas Woman Faces Murder Charge After Infant Found Near Dumpster

FORT WORTH, TX – A 23-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of capital murder after her infant’s body was found near a dumpster at a Fort Worth motel, police said.

Avia Cantrell was arrested Monday, according to Fort Worth jail records. Camron Baker, 26, was arrested on suspicion of abuse of a corpse.

Police said officers were called to the Drummers Inn in the 7300 block of Camp Bowie West Boulevard, at about 8:45 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, after someone found the infant’s body.

On Monday morning, a relative of Cantrell contacted police out of concern that the infant might be hers, according to a police record. 

The relative said Cantrell had a history of unattended or undisclosed pregnancies and childbirth and had been close to delivering. The relative also said Cantrell lived at the motel full-time with three other children.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office has not released the cause of the infant’s death.

Detectives with the Fort Worth Police Department’s crimes against children unit are investigating the case.