An 18-year-old woman who is accused of abandoning her new born baby at a dumpster says she abandoned the baby because she panicked.

Alexis Avila, who was identified as the child’s mother, told investigators that she didn’t even know she was pregnant until a day before she gave birth.

According to the report, Avila says she sought medical attention on Thursday because she was experiencing abdominal pain and constipation. The doctor then told her that her condition was due to her being pregnant.

On Friday, Avila says she began experiencing the stomach pain and eventually gave birth to a son.

The 18-year-old then says she panicked because she  didn’t know what to do or who to call. She eventually cut the umbilical cord, wrapped her son in a towel and placed the baby in a trash bag filled with other trash before putting that bag into a dumpster.

Authorities were later called to the area after neighbors heard a baby crying from the dumpster.

The neighbors believed the crying was coming from an animal, however, when they opened the bag, they found the infant wrapped in a dirty towel.

Authorities were able to identify Avila from a surveillance video of the area.

Avila was booked on suspicion of attempt to commit murder and child abuse and later released.