Dead infant found in Barton County pond, highway patrol says

An unidentified dead female infant was found in a farm pond three miles southeast of Lamar, according to a press release from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Sgt. John Lueckenhoff with the highway patrol said little is known at this point about the baby found in a rural area of Barton County.

"We're starting from scratch here," he said. "We don't know who she is; we don't know who her family is; we don't know how she got there."

Lueckenhoff said the body was found by a local resident who contacted the Barton County Sheriff's Department at about 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Anyone who has information about this incident is asked to call the Barton County Sheriff's Department at 417-682-5541 or 417-682-5515.