Florida authorities have arrested a college student, alleging she gave birth on a toilet and left the newborn to die before performing as part of a college theater production.
Anne Mae Demegillo was arrested Friday, March 6, on an aggravated manslaughter of a child charge.
Demegillo, 20, was detained by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, who said that a call came in Friday morning seeking a welfare check on an adult female.
“The caller informed operators that 20-year-old Anne Mae Demegillo had sent messages to the caller saying that she had secretly been pregnant and unexpectedly gave birth at home,” FCSO Chief Deputy Joe Barile told reporters during a press conference Friday.
When officers arrived at Demegillo’s home, she allegedly confirmed to police that she had given birth in the toilet the day before. She allegedly told investigators the newborn cried at first but eventually went lifeless.
“At that point, she hid the infant in a duffel bag in her closet and went about with her normal daily routine,” Barile said during the press conference.
He stated that Demegillo then proceeded to go to her local college and “did a performance at a theater” of Anything Goes before returning home.
Demegillo allegedly confessed to police she then buried the baby in a shallow grave in her backyard at 10 p.m. on Thursday, March 5.
Demegillo said that she was not even positive she was pregnant until she started delivering the child.
She allegedly later led authorities to where the baby’s body was buried.
Investigators believe she “knowingly and purposefully allowed the newborn to drown in the toilet,” according to a statement.
It was unclear what college Demegillo attends
Barile said that the deceased baby weighed 3 pounds, 6 ounces, and added the investigation into the baby’s death continues. The child’s sex was not revealed.
He also took a moment to remind people Florida’s Safe Haven Law protects parents who cannot care for a newborn and gives them the option of safely surrendering the child at any fire station, hospital or police station.
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy for our community, for the family involved, and an emotionally difficult case for our team,” said Sheriff Rick Staly in a statement. “I want to remind our community, especially our expectant mothers: Florida law allows you to bring a child at birth to a local fire station, hospital or law enforcement agency and surrender the child. That is a much better solution than what we are investigating today — for everyone involved, but most importantly the infant who was prevented from the life they deserve. May God bless this infant and hold and comfort the baby in his loving hands with the love the baby never received on earth.”
Demegillo appeared in court on Saturday, March 7, but it was unclear if she had entered pleas to the charges.
She is being held without bond and does not have an attorney of record.
Anyone with any information relevant to the investigation is urged to call the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office at (386) 313-4911.
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