Austin Police Arrest Woman After Newborn Found in Dumpster

On Saturday, September 20, 2025, at approximately 1:37 p.m., Austin Police Department (APD) officers responded to a welfare call after reports that a baby had been found inside a dumpster in the 8600 block of North Lamar Boulevard.

Officers and Austin-Travis County EMS arrived quickly and transported the infant to a local hospital. Authorities say the baby is improving and remains hospitalized for further evaluation.

APD’s Child Abuse Unit detectives and Crime Scene Specialists processed the scene, gathered evidence, and interviewed witnesses. Based on their findings, investigators identified 22-year-old Neli Dinora Rivera-Felipe as the suspect.

On September 22, 2025, Rivera Felipe was arrested and booked into the Travis County Jail. She has been charged with Abandoning or Endangering a Child, Elderly Individual, or Disabled Individual. The case remains under active investigation.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the APD Child Abuse Unit at 512-974-6880. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program at austincrimestoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477.