Police say the baby, identified as Adonnys Kendall, showed no obvious signs of trauma at the scene.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — New York City police arrested a Flatbush mother after officers found her 1-month-old son dead in a closet during a Saturday night welfare check, a discovery that led to a felony concealment charge and a broader investigation now awaiting autopsy results.
The arrest of 25-year-old Gynae Kendall came a day after officers responded to a Veronica Place apartment when the infant’s grandmother requested a wellness check, police said. The case is drawing close attention because authorities say the child, identified as Adonnys Kendall, had been placed inside a duffel bag and pronounced dead inside the home. The city’s medical examiner has not yet determined how the baby died, and police said that finding will guide any further charges or decisions by Brooklyn prosecutors.
According to police, officers arrived on the block shortly after 7:30 p.m. Saturday and spoke with family members before entering the apartment. Inside a bedroom closet, officers located a duffel bag with the unresponsive infant. Paramedics declared the child dead minutes later. Detectives said the grandmother sought help after she had not seen the baby and could not confirm his whereabouts. Investigators also interviewed the baby’s father and other relatives as they retraced the last known movements of the child in the days leading up to the wellness check.
Officials said there were no immediate signs of external trauma on the child, and the cause and manner of death remain unknown. Police recovered the duffel bag and other items for forensic testing and requested building surveillance video where available. The Administration for Children’s Services was notified, which is standard when an infant dies under unclear circumstances. Kendall was arrested Sunday on one count of concealment of a human corpse and taken to central booking in Downtown Brooklyn for processing. As of Tuesday morning, it was not immediately known if she had an attorney to speak on her behalf.
The apartment sits on Veronica Place in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, a residential corridor where low-rise buildings and courtyards are common. Neighbors described a steady law enforcement presence through the night, with investigators moving in and out of the building for hours as evidence technicians photographed rooms and collected bags. Several residents said police restricted access to the hallway while they worked. One resident, who declined to give his name, said he watched officers place a large evidence bag into a van before midnight.
Child death cases involving infants often hinge on the medical examiner’s findings, which can include pathology, toxicology and environmental testing that may take days or weeks. Prosecutors typically review those results before considering additional charges beyond concealment, a felony under state law tied to interference with an investigation. Police said detectives from the 67th Precinct and other specialized units are continuing interviews and canvassing the area for witnesses and video, including footage from building entrances and nearby storefronts.
By late Tuesday afternoon, police said no additional arrests were expected while they await the autopsy. A first appearance in Brooklyn Criminal Court is anticipated this week. Officials said they will release further information once the medical examiner issues preliminary findings.
Author note: Last updated January 27, 2026.