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Baby Found Floating In Mississippi River Near Winona

WINONA, Minn. (WCCO) – For the fourth time in 12 years, a baby has been found floating in the Mississippi River.

Officials in Winona County recovered a body on Monday.

In November of 1999, a little girl was found near Red Wing. Then a boy, believed to be that baby's brother, was discovered near Frontenac in 2003.

In 2007, a girl baby was found at the Treasure Island Marina. And now this incident of a baby being found near Winona.

The Winona County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday that the body found Monday was that of a baby girl who weighed seven pounds and was just a few days old at the time of her death. A family who lives on the Mississippi River discovered the baby about six miles south of Winona in a bag.

With this discovery, it's hard not to think there may be a connection to the others. Winona residents said Tuesday they were shocked when they heard what had transpired.

"At home I have four of my own kids so I cannot even imagine why or how somebody could try to do something so horrible," said Cindy Lambert.

"You've got to wonder who would do that to a baby," said Joe Gale.

The circumstances surrounding the baby's death are being investigated by the Winona County Sheriff's Office, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Winona County Attorney's Office. The baby's body was brought to the Dakota County Medical Examiner on Tuesday for an autopsy. Authorities said it could take days to find out how the baby died and what led to its death.

Watch Aristea Brady's earlier report:

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