The American student suspected of throwing her newborn baby from a Paris hotel window was on an international gap year trip with friends, it has been revealed.
The 18-year-old was on the trip of a lifetime to Europe, staying an Ibis Styles hotel off the Rue de la Croix Saint-Simon when the tragedy occurred yesterday.
EF Gap Year confirmed to MailOnline that she was part of their travel group after authorities said she was with a group of young adults touring Europe.
Adam Bickelnan, a spokesperson for EF Gap Year, told MailOnline: ‘We are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic event, and our thoughts are with everyone affected during this difficult time.
‘We are fully cooperating with local authorities as they continue their investigation. Counselling support has been offered to all group members, and we are extending our support to the impacted families.’
The tourist is alleged to have thrown her baby from the second floor ‘with the umbilical cord’ attached. The infant was taken to hospital and later pronounced dead.
The mother was also taken to hospital and soon after arrested. Police have opened an investigation for ‘homicide of a minor under 15’.
Investigators are probing the incident as a possible ‘pregnancy denial’, in which a woman is unaware of her pregnancy or unable to accept it.
Sources at the scene told MailOnline yesterday they saw a group of three leave the hotel to take a call sometime after the tragedy occurred.
The Paris prosecutor’s office told Le Parisien that the child did not survive the fall. Pictured: the Ibis Styles hotel on the corner of Rue des Réglises and Rue de la Croix Saint-Simon
An investigation has been opened for ‘homicide of a minor under 15’ following the incident at the Ibis Styles hotel
Emergency services took the child to the Robert Debre hospital in the neighbouring 19th arrondissement (File)
The Ibis Styles hotel, in the 20th arrondissement, pictured on Monday
Witnesses were reportedly ‘alerted by screams’ at around 6am on Monday before calling the emergency services, according to Paris Match.
Emergency services took the child to the Robert Debre hospital in the neighbouring 19th arrondissement ‘with a life-threatening prognosis’.
The Paris prosecutor’s office told Le Parisien that the child succumbed to injuries at around 7:45am local time.
‘The newborn was treated urgently but did not survive. The juvenile protection brigade was tasked with the investigation into the homicide of a minor,’ a statement from the prosecutor’s office read.
‘The mother, an American national, is part of a group of young adults traveling in Europe.
‘She was taken to hospital where she is to undergo an operation following her delivery.
‘She is also taken into custody on-site. The possibility of denial of pregnancy is considered.’
The Paris Child Protection Unit is leading the investigation, which is being pursued as homicide.
Denial of pregnancy is a rare condition affecting around 1 in 475 expecting mothers at 20 weeks gestation, and 1 in 2,500 to the point of delivery, research has found.
The condition ‘is a “red flag” that should trigger referral for psychiatric assessment,’ researchers assessed in a 2011 paper.
The paper notes that ‘for some, the necessary emotional adaptations’ to the emotional and physical toll of pregnancy ‘are not possible, resulting in maladaptive coping mechanisms’.
‘These range from depression and substance abuse through to overt denial of pregnancy.’
The paper warns that denial of pregnancy can result in psychological distress, unassisted delivery and neonaticide.
Sources at the scene saw a group emerge from the hotel shortly after the incident
The woman reportedly threw her baby from the 2nd floor of the hotel in Paris, per Le Parisien
File photo. The American tourist was said to have thrown the baby from a hotel window in Paris
The street was closed for more than five hours after the incident, sources told MailOnline.
Paris local Tassos Xenakis, 27, told MailOnline there was no police presence or cordon at the hotel by early Monday afternoon.
The tragedy was reported to have occurred at the hotel in the 20th arrondissement of the city.
The Ibis Styles is a three-star budget hotel off Rue de la Croix Saint-Simon. Rooms go for around £80 on average.
MailOnline contacted Accor Group for comment.
