OVILLA, Texas — Just the thought is enough to bring chills to any community.
“We were shocked," neighborhood HOA President Kevin Jackson said. "I mean, this is a pretty quiet neighborhood. Nothing like that's ever happened before.”
Thursday started off as a normal trash pickup day on St. Andrews Drive in Ovilla in Ellis County. WFAA obtained a neighborhood video showing sanitation workers picking up trash as they made their way down the street just after 1 p.m.
The video shows the workers emptying the trash into the truck’s hoppers, which is the area where trash is stored before it's compacted.
A second camera showed the workers attempting the last pickup on the cul-de-sac. Moments later, the driver is seen pulling around, getting out of the truck and joining the other two workers in the back.
That is when the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office said they got a call from the workers saying they found a dead baby. Shortly after, deputies arrived. An official in hazmat gear was seen retrieving the body which residents said appeared to be a little larger than a football.
It is unclear when the baby made it into the back of the truck and from which trash can.
Residents also told WFAA they saw workers show deputies their previous stops before the last pickup.
Although this is a gated community, Jackson said there are times in the day when the gate is open.
“Typically, it’s open for a couple of hours in the morning and afternoon for the school buses. Outside of that, I mean, people are free to, I guess, give out their access codes as needed,” said Jackson.
Neighbors said residents have different waste companies that they use. They said this company was DCI Sanitation. We reached out to them but have not gotten a response. Friday, WFAA was there as the company resumed trash services.
“It's heartbreaking," Jackson said. "I mean, I think for someone to be in a position where they felt that that was their only option."
It is a thought that has left the Ovilla community not only concerned but in disbelief.
There are still a lot of unanswered questions such as the baby’s gender, which trash can the baby was dumped into and who is responsible. WFAA reached out to Ellis County Sheriff’s Office which is handling the investigation. They said they do not have any updates at this time.