10/15/2026
UPDATE: INVESTIGATION INTO DECEASED INFANT
On October 14, 2026, at approximately 11:40 AM, Utica Police units were dispatched to the Oneida Herkimer Solid Waste Authority facility, located at 824 Sewage Plant Road, after employees discovered a deceased infant within the sorting portion of the facility.
Upon discovering the infant, facility personnel immediately halted operations and contacted law enforcement. Members of the Utica Police Department Patrol Division, Crime Scene Unit, and Criminal Investigations Division responded to the scene.
The infant has been identified as female. The investigation remains in its preliminary stages, and the circumstances surrounding the infant's death and how she came to be at the facility have not yet been determined.
The Utica Police Department is the lead investigative agency, with the investigation being conducted by the department's Major Crimes Unit. Due to the regional nature of the facility's operations and the fact that the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority provides services to multiple counties, investigators are working in conjunction with our partners at the New York State Police--Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and the Oneida County District Attorney Office.
Additionally, the Utica Police Department is working closely with the Onondaga County Medical Examiner's Office as part of the ongoing investigation.
As investigators work to establish the identity of the infant and determine the circumstances surrounding her death, the Utica Police Department is requesting the public's assistance.
Anyone who may have observed suspicious activity, unusual circumstances, or who possesses any other information that could potentially assist investigators in establishing the identity of the infant or determining how she came to be at the facility is encouraged to come forward.
No piece of information should be considered too insignificant. Even details that may initially seem unrelated could prove valuable in helping investigators establish a timeline and determine the circumstances surrounding this tragic discovery.
Anyone with information can contact the Utica Police Department MCU at (315) 223-3556 or you can submit a 100% anonymous tip online through Mohawk Valley Crime Stoppers at www.mohawkvalleycrimestoppers.com, by calling 1-866-730-8477 (TIPS), or by using the P3 Tips mobile app.
The Utica Police Department recognizes the sensitive nature of this investigation and asks that the public refrain from speculation while investigators work to establish the facts.
This remains an active and ongoing investigation. Additional information will be released as it becomes available and when appropriate to do so without compromising the integrity of the investigation.
