Officials at Christ Hospital say that the infant was stillborn Dec. 21, although a lawyer for the mother contends that he lived for about 20 minutes, The Jersey Journal reported. The tiny body was taken to the hospital morgue but was not there on Jan. 2 when a funeral director came to pick it up.

Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said that his investigation so far suggests criminal charges are unlikely. But lawyer Michael Anise, who is representing the mother, Kalynne Moore, said that he will be filing a lawsuit.

Anise said that his top priority, however, is recovering the body.

"This baby has to be found," said Jersey City attorney Michael Anise, who represents the baby's 26-year-old mother, Kalynn Moore of Jersey City. "We want to have the child back. My client is absolutely astonished and in dismay. She wants closure. We have to find this baby."

The search has taken police to landfills in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.