A dead and burned fetus is found in Phoenix’s largest homeless encampment by police

A couple found a dead and burned fetus in Phoenix’s largest homeless encampment as they attempted to put out a fire. 

Arizona police received a call about an endangered child near West Madison Street on Saturday around 1 am. When they arrived at the scene they found the burned fetus that is around 20 to 24 weeks, according to police. 

One witness told a neighbor that him and his fiancé saw someone light a fire in the street. The couple then attempted to put it out when they saw the tiny body.

The homeless crisis in Phoenix has been growing since the pandemic with 3,096 as of this year. 

‘[He told me] his fiancé came and was trying to put the fire out, and then he went to stomp on it to put it out and realized it was a baby in there,’ Joel Coplin told 12 News.

‘He saw the head, a perfectly shaped head, and little arms, hands, legs, chest. He grabbed his fiancé and turned away so she wouldn’t see it, and he was freaked out. He called 911.’ 

The fetus was pronounced dead at the scene. 

A couple witnessed someone set the fire and ran to go put it out when they discovered the fetus

The discovery occurred at Phoenix’s largest homeless encampment that was recently home to about 1,000 individuals

The Phoenix homeless encampment the fetus was found at, known as ‘The Zone’ by some, is one of the several expanding tent cities in the Arizona state capital that grew during the pandemic. 

Coplin’s home overlooks the streets nearby where the fetus was discovered. He wasn’t in complete shock about the discovery. 

‘Anything can happen around here,’ Coplin told the news outlet. ‘We’re right down here in “The Zone,” and anything and everything does happen.’ 

About 1,000 homeless people are currently sleeping in the encampment as of October 27, according to 12 News. 

A lawsuit was recently launched and heard in court about the conditions of the encampment last month – after property owners sued earlier this year. 

City officials also said they are working to resolve the homelessness crisis – and suggested the opening of a new homeless shelter. 

Police arrived at the encampment and pronounced the fetus – that was about 20 to 24 weeks – dead at the scene

The Phoenix homeless encampment the fetus was found at, known as ‘The Zone’ by some, is one of the expanding tent cities that grew during the pandemic

City officials also said the are working to resolve the homelessness crisis – and suggested the opening of a new homeless shelter

Thousands of people were reported homeless in Phoenix during the pandemic in 2020, with feces and garbage spread throughout ‘The Zone’ that is nearby luxury apartment buildings and restaurants. 

The recent homeless count in Phoenix was 3,096, according to city officials. The rise in rent and pandemic were at the forefront of blame from the increase since 2020 when 2,380 homeless people were reported. 

Phoenix officials have designated $50 million to address the homeless crisis and plan to spend $27.9 million on a new shelter to sleep 100 – and 175 new beds at the Central Arizona Shelter Services. The funds will also be administered to a shelter for veterans. 

Officials will also spend $4.7 million on rapid rehousing for all, $8.3 million on outreach services and $9 million on mental health services, according to the city’s website.