Fetal remains found in sewer, not storm drain

SMELTERVILLE — The discovery of fetal remains in a drainage system rattled the Silver Valley on Friday. 

Speculation ran rampant on social media sites despite details of the situation being unknown. One larger detail has been clarified –– the location of the remains.  

The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office's initial release stated the remains were found in a storm drain. However, they were actually found in a sewer line. 

According to SCSO Capt. Seth Green, deputies responded to a call about a human fetus found in a drain Saturday, Feb. 24, after a city employee working on the sewage lines discovered the fetus.

"At this point, it's just investigating to find out how it entered the sewage system," Green said. "We're starting with what we have. The medical examiner is checking it out and finishing their report as well."

Initial reports from the medical examiner said the fetal remains were around four months through the gestational process. 

The difference between the remains being discovered in a storm drain as compared to a sewer line potentially tells two different stories. 

Storm drains are designed as catch basins for rainwater and other precipitable runoff. Many of them flow into nearby waterways. Sewer lines carry wastewater away from buildings, where it flows to a treatment facility. 

In their initial statement, the SCSO said it believed the remains entered the line inside the city of Smelterville before they were discovered. 

Concealing the remains in one of the city’s storm drains would have required the person to lift an iron cover and place them there. The remains being found in a sewer line can mean an entirely different number of things. 

Capt. Green and the SCSO are still investigating the matter — just not as a crime. 

Green wasn’t able to elaborate in detail but did say that SCSO is working to avoid infringing on anyone’s HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) privacy rights. He said they are trying to determine how the remains ended up in the sewer line, instead of checking local hospitals for anything suspicious.  

Once they can determine how the fetus entered the line, they will turn their attention to the welfare of the mother. 

According to several local medical professionals who declined to be identified, there are several potentially concerning circumstances surrounding this situation, including the age and health of the mother.

If any fragments of a fetus or placenta remain in the uterus following a miscarriage, infection may develop. This infection, commonly referred to as a septic abortion, is potentially lethal and is considered a medical emergency. 

Other issues, like damage to the mother’s cervix or uterus as well as excessive bleeding, are also dangerous and require medical attention. 

The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office asks anyone with information to call 208-556-1114.