EAST PROVIDENCE — Workers were shocked by the grizzly discovery of a fetus during routine maintenance Monday, Jan. 12., at the Bucklin Point wastewater treatment facility, located at 102 Campbell Ave. in the Rumford section of the city.
East Providence Police Detective Captain Richard Frazier said workers found the fetus some time Monday afternoon and quickly alerted law enforcement.
The facility, which is operated by the Narragansett Bay Commission, receives wastewater from not only East Providence but also Pawtucket, Lincoln, North Smithfield and Smithfield.
“The fetus was apparently discarded somewhere in the system and ended up here,” Capt. Frazier said.
The state medical examiner was called to the scene. The fetus was removed and taken for an autopsy, the captain added.
East Providence Police detectives and the Rhode Island State Police are currently investigating the case. The Office of the Attorney General is also involved in the matter.
Capt. Frazier acknowledged the wide breathe of the investigation, considering how many municipalities use the Bucklin facility. He said there’s a chance blood drawn from the fetus could be matched with samples from within the criminal justice system or at area hospitals. He said, whether it was a miscarriage or an abortion, it appeared likely the mother would have needed medical attention.
“We have a lot of work ahead of us,” Capt. Frazier added.