U.S. student charged with child homicide after allegedly throwing newborn from Paris Hotel window
According to French authorities, 18-year-old gap-year student Mia McQuillin was traveling through Europe with a group of young people.
In a shocking incident in Paris, an 18-year-old U.S. student, Mia McQuillin, has been charged with 'child homicide' after allegedly throwing her newborn baby from the window of a hotel in the French capital.
The tragic event has raised numerous questions, with investigations now focusing on McQuillin’s mental health, including the possibility that she may have been suffering from a rare psychological condition known as 'pregnancy denial.'
According to French authorities, 18-year-old gap-year student Mia McQuillin was traveling through Europe with a group of young people.
The Tragic Incident
On Monday morning, a newborn baby was discovered lying on the street below the Ibis Styles Hotel in Paris’s 20th arrondissement.
The child, still attached to its umbilical cord and wrapped in a sheet, was found by passers-by who quickly called emergency services. Despite immediate efforts to revive the baby, it was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the nearby Robert Debré Hospital.
The baby had fallen from a window on the second floor of the hotel, approximately 30 feet above the ground. Witnesses noted that the hotel window was open at the time. French authorities quickly launched an investigation, and McQuillin, a gap-year student traveling with a group of fellow Americans, was arrested at the scene.
McQuillin’s Mental Health and Pregnancy Denial
As investigations unfold, a key focus has been on McQuillin’s mental health. Authorities are considering the possibility that she was suffering from "pregnancy denial," a rare psychological condition where women fail to recognize or acknowledge their pregnancy. Pregnancy denial can be emotionally and psychologically overwhelming and, in some extreme cases, has led to tragic outcomes like neonaticide (the killing of a newborn).
Experts explain that pregnancy denial affects about 1 in 475 women by the 20th week of pregnancy, and as many as 1 in 2,500 women may experience it through to the point of delivery. This condition can result in severe emotional distress, maladaptive coping mechanisms, and, tragically, unassisted deliveries.
French investigators are looking into whether McQuillin’s actions were influenced by this psychological condition, with some experts suggesting it could explain the baby’s abandonment.
The Legal Proceedings
McQuillin was initially taken to the hospital for treatment after the birth and was arrested shortly afterward at the clinic. She has been charged with 'child homicide' and remains in custody. Due to the potential psychological factors involved, McQuillin has been moved from police custody to a secure psychiatric unit for further evaluation. This facility specializes in patients who pose a danger to themselves or others due to psychiatric disorders.
Authorities have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, and the exact circumstances leading to the tragic death of the newborn are still under scrutiny. A specialized child protection unit is handling the case, and more information is expected to emerge in the coming weeks.
