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Employee finds fetus in pipe at Rio Rico plant

Posted at 8:28 PM, Mar 06, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-07 08:37:25-05

Authorities are investigating after an employee at the Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant found a fetus that had come through a pipe on Friday afternoon.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff Antonio Estrada said the plant is about nine miles from the border and the fetus could have come from either the Mexico or Arizona side. 

"It was about the size of a hand, it was so small.  The umbilical cord was still attached," said Estrada

He said the fetus was taken to the Medical Examiner in Tucson where it was determined to be a female and 17-18 weeks developed.

Estrada said it is unknown at this point if the fetus was aborted or if it was a miscarriage.

If you have any information about this incident, please call the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office at (520) 761-7869.