Additional Coverage:
- Woman charged after toddler is found in suitcase in New Zealand bus’ luggage compartment (nbcnews.com)
A two-year-old girl was discovered inside a suitcase in the luggage compartment of a bus in New Zealand on Sunday, leading to the arrest of a 27-year-old woman on child neglect charges.
The incident occurred during a scheduled stop in Kaiwaka, north of Auckland. According to Detective Inspector Simon Harrison, the bus driver became suspicious when he saw the bag moving after the woman requested access to the luggage compartment. Upon opening the suitcase, he found the toddler inside.
The child was taken to a hospital for evaluation. While reportedly “very hot,” she appeared otherwise unharmed.
The suspect, whose name has not been released, is scheduled to appear in court. Police haven’t ruled out additional charges.
The motive for placing the child in the suitcase remains unclear. The bus company, Entrada Travel Group, confirmed the incident involved one of its InterCity buses but declined further comment, citing the ongoing police investigation.
Detective Inspector Harrison commended the bus driver’s alertness and quick action, which he said prevented a potentially tragic outcome.