UPDATE: Investigators searching for possible deceased infant
After receiving a tip from an informant, several law enforcements agencies have begun searching the yard of a Russellville residence for a possible deceased infant, officials said Thursday afternoon.
According to Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett, the Alabama State Fire Marshal’s Office received a tip from a source stating that there could possibly be an infant child buried in the back yard of a residence just off Wilson Avenue in Russellville.
Hargett said the informant stated there was a woman who had lived at the residence from 2009 until recently who had given birth to a child who only lived for a few hours.
Hargett said the source said after the child died, it had been buried in the back yard.
“After we were given this information from the Fire Marshal’s informant, we obtained a search warrant and began searching the back yard of this residence,” Hargett said.
“We have cadaver dogs who have been involved in this process and they indicated earlier at a particular spot in the yard so we have begun digging in that vicinity.”
Hargett said nothing had been found at this time.
Officials with the Russellville Police Department, Alabama Bureau of Investigation, Russellville Fire Department and the Alabama State Fire Marshal’s Office are still on the scene.