Baby found in trash bag in Walmart bathroom dies, grandfather arrested


play

A grandfather has been arrested in connection with the death of his newborn grandchild after police said the baby was discovered in a restroom trash can at a South Texas Walmart.

The Kingsville Police Department reported officers responded at 10:22 p.m. on Monday July 14 to the store on East General Cavazos Boulevard after an employee called 911 to report finding the baby.

Kingsville is in Kleberg County east of Padre Island, about 40 miles southwest of the city of Corpus Christi.

Arriving officers found Walmart employees attempting to save the baby’s life, police said.

Investigator Celina Tatum, a spokesperson for the police department, told local KRIS-TV the baby was located inside a trash bag in the store’s bathroom.

“Maintenance was able to grab all the trash bags and cans from the actual restroom and he was en route to dispose of them… thought it was a little (concerning) and made contact from other employees,” Tatum told the outlet in a video interview reviewed by USA TODAY.

First responders transported the baby to Christus Spohn Hospital–Kleberg, officials reported, where doctors pronounced the child dead.

Mother of baby found in Walmart trash bag taken to hospital

The newborn’s mother arrived back on scene not long after, Tatum reported, and was taken to a hospital for a medical assessment.

“When she gets released we will speak to her regarding the incident,” Tatum said.

It was not immediately known whether the teen would face charges in the incident.

The police department’s chief said investigators reviewed video surveillance where they watched a young female entering the store where she “remained in the restroom for about 40 minutes before leaving,” WLBT-TV reported. The infant, the outlet reported, was discovered about 30 minutes after the female left.

Police have not identified the mother, but said she was age 17.

USA TODAY does not typically name juveniles in cases.

Kleberg County Sheriff’s Office jail records show Jerry Lee Martinez, the baby’s grandfather, was arrested on charges of abandoning or endangering a child with criminal negligence. He is also charged with tampering with physical evidence with the intent to impair and tampering with a witness.

Martinez, 45, was booked into the jail just after 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday, July 15, according to sheriff’s office records, which show he lives in Mathis, Texas, about 45 miles north of where the child was found in the trash bag.

Grandfather arrested after newborn found in Walmart trash can remains jailed

As of Thursday, July 17, Martinez remained jailed on a $300,000 bond, sheriff’s office records showed.

The 105th District Court Kleberg County clerk on July 17 told USA TODAY a hearing had not been scheduled for Martinez’s case yet, and that an attorney of record was not listed in his case file.

The cause of the child’s death has not yet been released.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call police at 361-592-4336.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.

Related Posts

Bodycam video released of Holcomb officer’s dramatic rescue

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – The Holcomb Police Department has released body camera video showing Officer Kayla Van Doren helping rescue a trapped 10-year-old boy last month. The…

Sources – Steelers, T.J. Watt agree to 3-year, $123M extension

Brooke PryorJul 17, 2025, 04:36 PM ET Close Brooke Pryor is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2019. She…

Even dead woodpeckers will cling to a tree

This story was originally published in July 2021. I was surveying a block on the southeast side of First Roach Pond in Kokadjo, when I noticed a…

The killing of Jason Corbett: A murder or self-defence? – Overview & Analysis

In 2015, father-of-two Jason Corbett was found dead in his home after being attacked by his wife and father-in-law. His injuries were shocking, but the legal proceedings…

21 year-old arrested, charged in shooting that killed 1, injured another

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – A Birmingham man has been arrested in connection to a July 16 homicide. According to the Birmingham Police Department, 21-year-old De’Aerius Johnson was…

Armed jewelry store employees fend off robbers – Palo Alto Daily Post

A jewelry store in Sunnyvale was rammed by a vehicle in an attempted robbery Friday but armed employees fended off the culprits, police said. The jeweler’s building,…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *