Sunset Beach : Body of Baby Girl Found by Boaters Near Shore

The body of a baby girl, apparently a newborn carried to full term, was found floating in the Pacific Ocean about 150 feet from shore about 1 p.m. Sunday, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said.

Pending an autopsy today, Lt. Russ Elsner said investigators do not know if the child was stillborn, died of natural causes and was discarded at sea, or was the victim of homicide.

The baby’s body was discovered by people in a boat, Elsner said. He said the location in the ocean was about 150 feet from Anderson Street in Sunset Beach.

“The boaters brought the body into the sheriff’s office at Sunset Harbor,” Elsner said. “We don’t have many details on the death yet, and I’m not sure if the body was clothed or unclothed. We’ll know more after the autopsy.”