MARIETTA, GA – A teenager in Georgia faces multiple felony charges after police say she attempted to bury her deceased newborn son in her backyard. Officers arrested Leticia A. Rodriguez, 17, following the disturbing discovery on a Sunday afternoon.

Authorities arrived at a Marietta residence on Gramling Street around 3:20 p.m. after receiving a call about a possible burial in progress. The Marietta Police Department announced the incident involved Rodriguez, who was found digging a hole, allegedly intending to bury her baby, according to the department’s public information officer.

The initial emergency call was reported inaccurately due to a language barrier, leading to confusion about the situation, the spokesperson clarified. Investigators at the scene confirmed that while Rodriguez was attempting to dig the hole, the infant had not been buried.

Details from the police report indicated that the circumstances following Rodriguez’s childbirth were harrowing. The newborn’s body, immediately recognizable, showed signs of injury, suggesting it was a full-term baby. However, the specifics of these injuries were not disclosed due to their sensitive nature.

Rodriguez reportedly gave birth alone at her home earlier that day without any help from adults or peers. Following the birth and needing urgent medical care, she was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.

According to police reports, the young mother allegedly used blankets to wrap her newborn and placed him in a grocery bag for several hours. Her actions were interrupted when a relative discovered her attempt to dig a grave and subsequently alerted authorities.

A more detailed affidavit revealed unsettling allegations, including Rodriguez’s admission to using a pocket knife on the newborn’s body, which contributed to her charges of abuse and concealment of a dead body.

Rodriguez remains hospitalized and will be transferred to Cobb County Jail upon her release. An autopsy of the newborn’s body is underway to determine the exact cause of death, which could lead to further charges against her.