A city worker found a human fetus in a sewer line yesterday morning. The 10-inch body is believed to be the remains of a first trimester fetus, according to Selma City Police officials.

An unnamed city employee, while repairing a sewer line in the 2000 block of Deer Ridge Drive in the Woodward East subdivision, discovered the body. Selma police officers and the Dallas County Coroner responded.

Police chief Robert Green said the body appeared to have been sent sometime in the 24 hours before its discovery. Police had no information on how the fetus came to be in the city’s sewage system.

“We’re still investigating,” Green said. “We have no ideas on how it was placed (in the sewer).”

At this time, Green said the department was treating the case as a death investigation. Green said he’s not sure about whether or not criminal charges will be filed.

“The law is not that clear regarding fetuses,” Green said. “This is a very unusual investigation.”

District Attorney Ed Greene approved an autopsy of the body, which will give the police and the district attorney’s office some idea if charges need to be filed.

“The child would have to be born alive and viable for a homicide charge,” Greene said. Other charges are possible, but Greene said he wouldn’t be sure until after the investigation progressed more.

“They (the Selma police) are trying to do their job and from there we can make a determination on how to prosecute,” Greene said. “This is very distressing for us all.”

Chief Green said the preliminary autopsy report would be completed in two to three days.