Authorities in north-west Spain are investigating the discovery of a baby's body inside a chest freezer in a storage room of a residential building in Allariz, a town in the province of Ourense, Galicia. The find was made last Monday by a woman who was sorting through the belongings of her recently deceased mother, according to the local newspaper La Región.
The freezer was located in a storage area within the building's garage. When the woman opened it, she found the remains of a newborn. Preliminary assessments suggest the infant was born after a pregnancy of between 32 and 34 weeks and may have breathed at birth. However, the exact circumstances and cause of death will only be clarified by an autopsy conducted by the Galician Institute of Legal Medicine.
Investigation and DNA analysis
The Civil Guard has taken statements from several people close to the former owner of the freezer and has sent DNA samples to a laboratory in Madrid in an attempt to identify the baby's biological parents. Investigators are not ruling out that the death may have occurred elsewhere in the province, with the body later transported to Allariz inside the freezer itself.
The case has drawn attention to the region, which has seen other instances of concealed deaths and abandoned remains. In recent years, Spain has grappled with cases involving hidden bodies, often linked to family tragedies or unresolved circumstances. The discovery in Allariz adds a somber chapter to the area's history.
Local residents have expressed shock and sadness. The building where the body was found is a typical apartment block, and the storage room is a common feature in many Spanish urban developments. The woman who made the discovery was reportedly overwhelmed, having expected to find old belongings and keepsakes, not the remains of an infant.
Forensic experts will now work to determine the time of death, which could be more than two decades ago. The age of the body, combined with the condition of the freezer, will be crucial in establishing a timeline. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward.
This case echoes other incidents in Spain where bodies have been discovered in unusual locations, often after many years. In 2019, police in Madrid found a mummified body in a basement, and in 2021, a woman was arrested for keeping her deceased mother's body in a freezer for years. Such cases highlight the complexities of investigating long-concealed deaths.
The Galician Institute of Legal Medicine, based in Santiago de Compostela, is expected to release preliminary findings in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the Civil Guard continues its inquiries, focusing on the identity of the mother and the circumstances surrounding the birth and death.
For now, the community of Allariz, a town known for its medieval architecture and annual festivals, is left with more questions than answers. The discovery has cast a pall over the town, and residents are hoping that the investigation will bring closure to what appears to be a long-hidden tragedy.
