A former Florida college student faces multiple charges in the death of a newborn baby, whose body was found wrapped in a towel in a trash can.
Brianna Moore, 19, has been charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, child neglect with great bodily harm and two other charges including failure to report a death.
State Attorney Suzy Lopez said Moore was arrested in her home state of Mississippi in the town of Quitman and will be extradited to Florida.
An autopsy revealed how the baby was found with multiple fractured ribs along her spine and bleeding in her lungs.
The Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be homicide.
Moore was arrested in her home state of Mississippi and will be extradited to Florida
Moore’s roommates called the police after finding a bloody towel in a trash can. The agents discovered the newborn’s body wrapped in a towel.
‘It breaks my heart to know that this little girl could still be alive today if this woman had alerted the authorities that she needed help. Instead, she took actions that directly led to the death of her newborn baby,” Lopez said.
‘This is a difficult and nuanced case to prosecute, and our community must continue to educate women about the many resources available to them in situations like this. This baby’s death was avoidable.
“I’ve been a prosecutor for over 20 years in my own hometown…this is a case I struggled with,” Lopez said through tears. “This was a newborn baby who wasn’t even given the chance to live.”
Lopez has vowed to ensure that Moore is held accountable for his actions.
“Jesus Christ, there’s a fire station across the street from the University of Tampa,” Lopez explained. “Tampa General Hospital is only a two or three minute drive away.”
Brianna Moore, 19, has been charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, child neglect causing great bodily harm and two other charges.
‘It breaks my heart to know that this little girl could still be alive today if this woman had alerted the authorities that she needed help. Instead, she took actions that directly led to the death of her newborn baby,” said Hillsborough State’s Attorney Suzy Lopez.
Prosecutors say Moore’s roommates heard a baby crying in their University of Tampa dorm on the night of April 27 and found blood in their shared bathroom.
Campus security was called and Moore told them the blood was from her period, Lopez said.
Moore’s roommates called police again the next day after finding a bloody towel in a trash can. The agents discovered the newborn’s body wrapped in a towel.
Police quickly identified Moore as the baby’s mother.
Following her arrest, Moore is currently being held in the Lauderdale County Jail in Mississippi, but will soon be transferred to Tampa.
Florida’s Safe Haven law allows parents to anonymously surrender unwanted babies up to 30 days after birth with no questions asked.
A parent who has just given birth can hand over a child to medical personnel at a hospital or any fire station.