Man taking out trash finds girl's body in southwest Miami-Dade dumpster

Detectives investigate how body ended up in dumpster at Tuscany Place Apartments

MIAMI-DADE, Fla. – A man who was throwing out his garbage found the body of a girl inside a dumpster Sunday in southwest Miami-Dade County, police said.

The man was taking out his trash in the Tuscany Place Apartments about 12:45 p.m. when he found the body and called 911, Detective Argemis Colome said.

Detectives are investigating how the body ended up in the dumpster.

It was unclear how long the body was there, but the body is believed to be that of a black girl between the ages of 3 and 8.

"No parent has called us," Colome said.

Residents of the complex gathered Sunday night in prayer outside a growing memorial for the unidentified girl.

"We're mothers ourselves, and the thought of a little girl just being dumped in the garbage, it hurts us," resident Yarenis Machado said.

The dumpster was towed away from the scene. The girl's body was taken to a medical examiner's office to determine the cause and manner of death.

Anyone with information was being asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.


About the Authors:

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.