'Dead Baby' That Prompted Massive NYC Crime Scene Turns Out to Be Doll

Photo: NBC 4

Warning: The following story contains graphic imagery and details.

Detectives flooded the scene upon receiving the initial report, setting up a crime scene tent and blocking off the area with yellow tape, according to the Associated Press. But when personnel from the city’s medical examiner arrived to retrieve the body, they quickly determined it was a doll.

The doll was found lying next to a wall, prompting many to suspect someone threw it over the wall and left, theNew York Timesreported.

Three hours had passed before authorities realized their mistake. Responding paramedics were unable to detect a heartbeat, and likely did not want to disturb the apparent corpse, theTimesreported. So, they left crime scene investigators to take over.

“Any time a child is involved in any kind of crime, the Police Department goes crazy, so they all come running,” Fried told theTimes. “Once it becomes a major crime scene, you have so many departments and everyone gets blocked off.”

source: people.com