Houston teen accused of dumping baby arrested

Hearing at the Harris County Juvenile Court for the case with the 16-year-old who left her newborn in a dumpster on February 25. Hearing at the Harris County Juvenile Court for the case with the 16-year-old who left her newborn in a dumpster on February 25. Photo: Houston Chronicle Photo: Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close Houston teen accused of dumping baby arrested 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

A 16-year-old girl accused of putting her newborn in a Houston dumpster last month has been charged with abandoning a child without intent to return.

During a civil court hearing in the baby's case on Friday, the teen appeared in court handcuffed and wearing a tan jumpsuit.

A Child Protective Services caseworker told Judge Mike Schneider that the teen was arrested and charged with the state jail felony on Thursday.

The caseworker told Schneider that she did not believe the baby would have a suitable home with his relatives.

Schneider ruled that baby Carlos remain in CPS care and be placed in a foster home. In the meantime, Schneider asked CPS to do a home study of a family friend to see if that family would provide a suitable place for Carlos.

Tammy Adams, the ad litem attorney for the teen mother, said Carlos was still in a Houston-area hospital on Friday and will go to the foster home when he is released.

Schneider also ruled that the teen get additional mental evaluations. Additionally, he ordered the teen and the baby each be assigned separate ad litem guardians.

The boy's mother told CPS caseworkers that she did not know she was pregnant and that she had not spoken to the 22-year-old man she said is the father in about six months.

The girl, who gave birth in her bathtub, thought her son was dead, according to CPS. After the birth, the teen allegedly cut the umbilical cord herself and later placed the baby in a dumpster at The Reserve at Windmill Lakes apartments, 9988 Windmill Lakes Boulevard.

Carlos Michel, a 51-year-old maintenance worker, discovered the newborn, who had been stuffed in a white trash bag, around 8:30 a.m. Feb. 25 after hearing faint whimpers coming from the dumpster.

The baby's mother named Carlos after Michel, said CPS spokeswoman Estella Olguin.