Former Florida college student charged in the death of a baby found in a trash can

TAMPA, Fla. — A former Florida college student is facing several charges in the death of her newborn child, whose body was found wrapped in a towel in a trash can.

Investigators said Friday that Brianna Moore, 19, is charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, child neglect causing great bodily harm and two other charges. State’s Attorney Suzy Lopez said in a news release that Moore was arrested in her home state of Mississippi and will be extradited to Florida.

“It breaks my heart to know that this 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 newborn baby,” Lopez said.

It was not clear Friday whether Moore has an attorney who could speak on her behalf.

Prosecutors say Moore’s roommates heard a baby crying in their University of Tampa residence 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 menstruation, Lopez said.

Moore’s roommates called police again the next day after finding a bloody towel in a trash can and officers discovered the child’s body wrapped in the towel.

Florida’s Safe Haven law allows parents to anonymously surrender unwanted babies up to 30 days after birth, no questions asked. A parent who has just given birth can deliver a child to the medical staff at a hospital or fire station.