Adrian Hedden
El Rito Media

Editor’s note: This is a developing story. Stay with the Artesia Daily Press for updates.

An infant reported missing last month was found dead Sept. 6 in a remote area of Eddy County.

The Eddy County Sheriff’s Office reported last Friday (Sept. 13) that the remains were found in a remote area on State Road 137, also known as the Queen Highway.

Eddy County Sheriff’s Lt. Kane Wyatt said police were investigating the case as a homicide.

“Whenever we start a death investigation, we conduct it as if it’s a homicide until it is determined not to be a homicide,” Wyatt said. “It’s a death under suspicious circumstances.”

The infant was first reported missing to the Carlsbad Police Department Aug. 30, police said. Police notified the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office of a lead indicating the remains could be outside city limits.

The Sheriff’s Office took over the investigation at that point and  deputies found human remains later identified as an infant by the Office of the Medical Investigator.

Police did not immediately reveal the gender of the child or other identifying information, a potential manner of death, or the circumstances surrounding the initial missing person report.

The Artesia Daily Press requested a copy of the police report from the Sheriff’s Office under the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) but had not received the report by press time.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Eddy County Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Edward Aranda at 575-887-7551.

Tips can also be submitted to Eddy County Crimestoppers at 575-887-1888 or 844-786-7227, on eddycountycrimestoppers.com or on the mobile app P3 Tips.

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 734-972-6855, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.