Police are investigating the newborn’s death after the teenage girl gave birth Wednesday at Aldridge Elementary School on Chicago’s Far South Side.
CHICAGO — A newborn died after a 15-year-old girl gave birth Wednesday afternoon at an elementary school on Chicago’s Far South Side, authorities said, prompting a police investigation into circumstances that remained largely unclear Thursday.
Chicago police said the girl gave birth at Aldridge Elementary School in the Riverdale neighborhood. The baby was pronounced dead at the scene, while the teenager was taken to a hospital in good condition. Authorities have not publicly identified the girl, and news organizations are withholding identifying details because she is a minor.
The birth occurred around 3 p.m. Wednesday at the school, located at 630 E. 131st St., according to police information reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office also listed that address as the location of the baby’s death.
Police said Area 2 detectives were investigating. Authorities had not released a cause or manner of death for the newborn as of Thursday, and no additional details had been made public about the circumstances before or immediately after the birth.
The teenager was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital and was listed in good condition, according to police. Officials did not disclose whether she was a student at Aldridge Elementary or explain why she was at the school when she gave birth.
Chicago Public Schools had not issued a detailed public statement about the incident in the initial reports. It was also unclear who was present when the girl gave birth, when school staff became aware of the emergency or what medical assistance was provided before first responders arrived.
The case drew attention because of the age of the mother and the unusual location of the birth, but investigators had released few facts beyond the basic timeline. Police had not announced any arrests or criminal charges, and there was no public indication that investigators had determined whether a crime occurred.
Authorities also had not disclosed the newborn’s condition at birth or other medical information that could establish what caused the death. Those questions remain central to the investigation, and officials cautioned through the limited information released so far that further findings were still pending.
The girl’s identity and other private information have not been released. The investigation remained active as detectives worked to determine the circumstances surrounding the birth and the newborn’s death.
Author note: Last updated October 30, 2026.