Mother charged with murder after dropping off just-born baby at sorority
NEW CONCORD, Ohio - An Ohio woman was charged with murder on Thursday after allegedly dropping off her hours old baby at a sorority house in April, reported CBS affiliate WBNS. The infant was found dead, reportedly from asphyxiation, after the mother wrapped the infant in a trash bag.
Emile Weaver, 20, was charged with aggravated murder, abuse of a corpse, and two counts of tampering with evidence in the death of her newborn child, according to the station.
In April, Weaver reportedly dropped the baby off at the Delta Gamma Theta sorority house on the campus of Muskingum University, where she is reportedly a sophomore.
Haddox offered new details into the tampering with evidence charges.
"She concealed or removed blood and or placenta," Haddox said. "She removed or concealed the body of the baby."
Muskingum County Prosecutor Michael Haddox wouldn't tell the station whether Weaver cooperated with law enforcement or if she gave a possible reason for the death of her child.
Haddox did tell the station that he would like to stress the significance of the Safe Haven Law, which allows mothers to drop off a baby within 30 days of birth to any emergency room, law enforcement officer, or firefighter, no questions asked.
"If there's any good that can come out of a case like that we would hope that it's the public getting more knowledge on that law," Haddox said. "There are other alternatives than a newborn ending up dead."
If convicted, Weaver could spend life in prison without the possibility of parole. Her arraignment has been scheduled for Wednesday, July 29, at 11 a.m, the station reported.
It is not the first time a newborn has died from asphyxiation at the school -- in 2002, student Jennifer Bryant was sentenced to three years in prison in connection with her baby's death, but was released after just seven months.