A deceased newborn baby was found at 125 Lakeside Drive in New Concord Wednesday night at approximately 9:06 p.m.
Muskingum University Police contacted the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office after receiving a report of an abandoned baby found on campus.
The coroner has sent the body for an autopsy to the Licking County Forensic Center.
The Lakeside Drive residence currently houses members of the Delta Gamma Theta sorority. Part of Lakeside Drive was blocked off at 9:43 p.m. Wednesday night into the early morning hours Thursday.
University Police Chief Danny Vincent said “no students were ever at risk,” in an email sent to the campus community at 8:54 a.m. Thursday morning. The investigation is being handled by University Police and the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office.
President Anne Steele said in a campus-wide email sent Thursday at 9:56 a.m. that university counselors and chaplains are available to the campus “throughout this very difficult time for our community.”
In an interview with Capt. Jeff LeCocq Thursday at 4 p.m., the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office is still awaiting results from the Licking County Coroner. There has not been an autopsy conducted. It is unknown if the birth was live or still. The gender cannot be released at this time. The Sheriff’s Office has conducted many interviews and evidence was collected at the scene. Evidence cannot be confirmed because it is cause for speculation.
The Muskingum Greek Community is supporting Delta Gamma Theta by sharing words of encouragement and sympathy on a banner located in the Quad Center on campus. A fraternity member involved with the signing says that “Everything was so dark last night. We just wanted to do something for them [Delta Gamma Theta] so they didn’t feel helpless.”
Orbit Media will continue coverage as the investigation is ongoing. Follow Orbit Media on Twitter @orbit907news for more updates.
