A woman discovered a four-month-old baby girl inside a bag in a Los Angeles dumpster on Monday night.

The baby was taken to hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her mother has since been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Martha Jimenez discovered Luna, the daughter of 19-year-old Takiyah Babers, on Alba Street. The location is around four-and-a-half miles south of downtown LA.

Babers is now being held on $2 million bail, Daily Mail reports. The Los Angeles Police Department says that the investigation into her daughter’s death remains ongoing.

Babers’ foster parents, Herman Johnson and Laura Lacey, became concerned after seeing news reports around 4am on Tuesday that a baby found in a dumpster had six toes on her left foot.

Luna had the same distinctive feature, Fox11 says, prompting them to rush to the apartment where Babers had been staying.

Fox11 reports Babers initially told the couple Luna was asleep. She then claimed that the baby was with her father, who they said had never been involved in the child’s life.

Babers reportedly then left, supposedly to collect Luna, and returned showing them a video on her phone as reassurance that the baby was fine. Laura was said to have noticed Babers was wearing different clothes in the footage from those she had on that morning.

The discrepancy deepened their suspicions about where Luna was. They also found her car seat unused in the bedroom.

Johnson spoke to Fox11 about his heartbreak at learning where Luna had been found. He said that he was at a total loss for words.

Lacey also described the impact on their household. She told NBCLA: ‘I miss my grandbaby, my whole house is hurt.’

The family joined members of the community for a vigil yesterday. Mourners gathered at the same dumpster where Jimenez had discovered Luna two nights earlier.

Candles, flowers and balloons were left in the baby’s memory. Photographs of Luna were placed among the tributes.

Takiyah’s father, Van R Babers, also attended the vigil for Luna.

Speaking to KTLA 5, Van said: ‘The little baby was just precious like all babies.’ He also expressed disbelief at the suspicions surrounding his daughter.

‘It’s a total surprise to me that this could even take place at her hands because what happened is so different than the way she was throughout life.’

The Los Angeles Police Department issued a statement on Tuesday confirming that the investigation was continuing. Police asked anyone with information to contact the LAPD’s Abused Child Unit, Juvenile Division.

Meanwhile in Wales, police are trying to find the mother of a newborn baby girl whose body was discovered on the shoreline in Bangor and may have been in the water for weeks…

Newborn baby girl found dead on shoreline may have been in water for weeks

A newborn baby girl found dead on the shoreline in Wales may have been in the water for weeks, police have said.

Police and medical staff have renewed their appeal for the infant’s mother to get in touch, saying her ‘welfare and safety are our main concern’.

A walker made the grim find in Bangor, Gwynedd, on Sunday afternoon.

In an update today, North Wales Police said a post-mortem examination revealed that the baby was a girl and initial indications showed she may have been in the water for up to a few weeks.

Police are understood to be keeping an open mind about where the baby entered the water and are taking advice on currents from oceanographers.

House to house inquiries are continuing in the area where the body was found.

Superintendent Llinos Davies said: ‘We understand that the mother may be fearful of coming forward but we urge her to make contact with us.

‘I’d like to reassure her that her welfare and safety is our utmost concern.

‘Anyone with concerns about a girl or a woman you think may have been pregnant or whose behaviour has been unusual or out of character over the past few months, including withdrawing from friends, family or social ties, please contact us.

‘Please do the right thing to ensure this mother gets the health support she needs.

‘All names received will be treated with the utmost discretion and can be eliminated as the mother without delay.

‘I understand that this is a terribly sad incident for the community and I am grateful for the overwhelming support and assistance that we have received so far.’

A force spokesman said following an appeal earlier this week a number of calls had been received from members of the public.

All calls would be taken seriously, police said.

In an appeal directly to the mother, director of midwifery and woman’s service for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Fiona Giraud, said: ‘You may feel you have nowhere to turn, or that you cannot speak to anyone about what has happened.

‘Please do not feel that you have to face this alone.

‘We don’t yet know all the circumstances surrounding your baby’s death, but what is important right now is that we find you, make sure you are safe and ensure you receive any medical attention and support you may need.

‘I am asking you personally, please take the first step and contact us. There are people to help you.’

Anyone with information can contact police on 101, quoting Operation Melex, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.