Two North Jersey women were charged with desecrating human remains after a newborn was found inside a Wayne residence Sunday, the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office said.

Nicole Tsentas, 33, of Emerson, and Amanda Walker, 36, of Wayne were arrested Monday, prosecutors said. According to the affidavit of probable cause, the newborn's remains were found in a container in the basement of Walker's parents' home on Balsam Road.

Tsentas told police that in July 2020, she was driving on the Garden State Parkway when she started to feel abdominal pain, the affidavit said. When she pulled over and started pushing, a baby came out. 

"I was pregnant and I didn't know," Tsentas allegedly told police.

Police said Tsentas claimed the baby was not breathing, and that she tried to clear its airway, but eventually wrapped the body in a blanket, took it home and kept it in her closet until November 2020, when she allegedly told Walker about the ordeal.

Tsentas allegedly told authorities that Walker put the remains in a bag and took it to the latter's parents' home in Wayne, and stored the bag in a container in the basement. Walker's parents were seemingly unaware. 

Tsentas said she never asked Walker for help with the remains. Walker allegedly told police that she assisted Tsentas with concealing the fetus.

For months after initially concealing the newborn's body, police said, Tsentas had asked to pick up the container. Finally, on Sunday, Walker called her parents and told them that Tsentas was going to pick up a container containing Harry Potter memorabilia from the basement, the affidavit said.

Police said when Walker's parents retrieved the container they noticed an odor. Walker's father then found the bag with the remains and called the police. When officers arrived at the Balsam Road home, Tsentas arrived and began telling police what had happened two years prior, the affidavit said. Tsentas was then taken to police headquarters, where she provided a statement.

Walker was arrested in Paterson on Monday and also provided a statement, police said.

The medical examiner's office took the remains and will perform an autopsy.

Wayne NJ:Is ex-Toys R Us site in Wayne next 'metroburb'? Ideas wanted for 621K-square-foot complex

The Wayne Police Department confirmed it participated in the investigation.

Jail records confirmed that Walker and Tsentas are in custody at Passaic County Jail. Both women are scheduled to appear at a processing hearing Friday. Prosecutors said they have filed a motion for pretrial detention.

Liam Quinn is a breaking news reporter for NorthJersey.com. To get breaking news directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.