Police reported no apparent signs of foul play and said they were not searching for a suspect.
PHOENIX — A newborn was found dead Thursday afternoon inside an apartment in north Phoenix, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
Officers responded July 16 to the Mission Place Apartments on Mission Lane, near Seventh Street and north of Dunlap Avenue. Police said the newborn was found dead inside one of the units, but authorities released few details about what led officers to the apartment or who made the initial report.
Investigators said no one else was inside the apartment when officers arrived. Police did not disclose where in the unit the child was found or provide information about the newborn’s age, sex or identity.
The cause and manner of death had not been determined. Police said there were no apparent signs of foul play and that investigators were not looking for any suspects based on the information available Thursday.
Authorities did not say whether a parent or guardian had been located or interviewed. They also did not explain whether the apartment was occupied, how long the newborn may have been inside or when the child was last known to be alive.
The investigation could include findings from the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner, which determines causes and manners of death in cases under its jurisdiction. No examination results had been publicly released.
Police had not announced any arrests or criminal allegations. The absence of apparent foul play at the scene does not by itself establish why the child died, and authorities said the investigation remained underway.
No additional public update identifying the newborn or explaining the circumstances of the death had been issued as of Monday. Investigators had not provided a timetable for releasing further information.
Author note: Last updated July 20, 2026.