Infant Found Dead in Suicidal Father's Refrigerator

By Gil Aegerter, MSNBC

Credit: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle

A mother reacts while speaking with homicide detectives as police investigate the death of her near 6-month-old son who was found in the refrigerator by firefighters where he lived with his father.

May 3, 2012 Updated May 3, 2012 at 12:36 PM PDT

Police are trying to determine what killed a 6-month-old baby who was found dead inside a refrigerator at a Houston apartment, NBC station KPRC reported.

Police said they got a suicidal call from a man about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. When officers said the man refused to let them into his apartment. A neighbor saw what was going on and panicked because she knew a baby was inside.

"I got a hold of maintenance and they ended up kicking the door in," neighbor Evette Williams said. "Found the guy laying on the floor and no baby."

Police said it was obvious that a child lived there. "There were some items that were indicative that a child was living there at some point," Sgt. Ora Chandler said.

Detectives ended up finding a baby boy, about 6 months old, inside the refrigerator. He was wrapped in a blanket and wearing clothing.

The child was identified as Joseph Elijah Mouton, the Houston Chronicle reported Thursday.

Although an autopsy is pending, KPRC reported that police said they suspect the body was inside the refrigerator for at least a day. The father was hospitalized with self-inflicted injuries and was being held under guard.

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