Missing Newborn Found Dead After Queens House Fire Kills Mother

The 17-day-old baby's body was recovered after a four-alarm blaze that left 45 people homeless

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A missing 17-day-old baby was found dead after a four-alarm house fire in Queens, New York killed the infant's 34-year-old mother, Miguelina Alcantara. The fire also injured seven other people and left around 45 residents displaced from their homes.

Why it matters

The tragic incident has shaken the Elmhurst community and raised questions about the safety of the home, which was certified as a two-family residence but did not have a permit for a basement apartment where the mother and infant were believed to be located during the blaze.

The details

The fire broke out around 6:45 p.m. on February 9th and was met with heavy flames on the first floor that rapidly spread throughout the building. Three people jumped out the rear of the building to escape, while two others were rescued through ladder rescues from upper-floor windows. One firefighter also fell through a hole on the first floor and had to be rescued. After an initial search, authorities received information that the mother and child were last seen in the building's basement, prompting a more intensive search. Miguelina Alcantara's body was eventually located, but her 17-day-old daughter Emma remained missing until her body was discovered the following day after heavy equipment was brought in to clear debris.

  • The fire broke out around 6:45 p.m. on Monday, February 9, 2026.
  • Miguelina Alcantara's body was located during the initial search.
  • The search for the missing 17-day-old baby continued throughout the early morning hours and all day on Tuesday, February 10.
  • The baby's body was finally located on Wednesday, February 11 after heavy equipment was used to clear debris from the building.

The players

Miguelina Alcantara

The 34-year-old mother who was killed in the four-alarm house fire in Elmhurst, Queens.

Emma Alcantara

Miguelina Alcantara's 17-day-old daughter who was found dead after the fire.

John Esposito

The New York City Fire Department Chief of Department who provided details about the ferocity of the fire and the search efforts for the missing mother and child.

Shekar Krishnan

A New York City Councilman who said the fire severely damaged two other houses and left about 45 people homeless, calling it a "heartbreaking situation".

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What they’re saying

“It is such a heartbreaking situation, just to hear of the death of the mother and her baby, the number of people injured, the families displaced.”

— Shekar Krishnan, New York City Councilman (The New York Times)

What’s next

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation by authorities.

The takeaway

This tragic incident has devastated the Elmhurst community and raised concerns about the safety and legality of the home where the fire occurred, which was not properly permitted for a basement apartment where the mother and infant were located during the deadly fire.