A former Florida college student, Brianna Moore, 19, is facing multiple charges in connection with the death of her new-born infant, whose body was discovered wrapped in a towel inside a trash can.
Investigators announced on Friday that Moore is charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, child neglect with great bodily harm, and two additional counts. State Attorney Suzy Lopez stated that Moore was arrested in her home state of Mississippi and will be extradited to Florida.
Lopez expressed her sorrow over the situation, saying, “It breaks my heart to know that this baby girl could still be alive today if this woman had alerted authorities that she needed help. Instead, she took actions that directly led to the death of her new-born baby.”
As of Friday, it was unclear whether Moore has legal representation.
Prosecutors revealed that Moore’s roommates heard a baby crying in their University of Tampa residence hall on the night of April 27 and discovered blood in their shared bathroom. When campus security was called, Moore claimed the blood was due to menstruation.
The following day, the roommates contacted police again after finding a bloody towel in a trash can. Officers responded and uncovered the infant’s body, which was wrapped in a towel.
Under Florida’s Safe Haven law, parents can anonymously surrender unwanted infants up to 30 days after birth without facing any questions. A parent who has recently given birth can surrender a child to medical personnel at a hospital or any fire station.
