Florida – In a deeply disturbing incident in Florida, a 20-year-old woman, identified as A. Demegillo, is facing serious criminal charges after authorities say she allowed her newborn baby to die and later buried the child’s body in her backyard. Demegillo has been charged with one count of aggravated manslaughter of a child after investigators concluded that she knowingly allowed the newborn girl to drown shortly after giving birth.
The disturbing case began after Demegillo reportedly gave birth unexpectedly in the toilet inside her family’s home. According to investigators with the sheriff’s office, the baby was born alive but was left in a toilet, where she ultimately drowned. Authorities say Demegillo later placed the infant’s body inside a duffel bag, continued with her day as if nothing had happened, and only hours later buried the child in a shallow grave behind the home.
According to officials, the events began on Thursday, March 5, when Demegillo began experiencing severe cramps. She later told deputies she did not realize she was pregnant and believed something else might have been causing the pain. Demegillo said she went to the bathroom inside her family home and gave birth to what she described as a “live child.” Investigators say the baby was born into a toilet. Instead of removing the newborn immediately or seeking help, authorities say Demegillo watched as the baby struggled for life.
Chief Deputy Commander J. Barile later explained during a press conference that the young woman admitted to watching the infant until she stopped breathing. According to investigators, Demegillo had also sent a message to a friend describing what had happened. In the message, she said the baby initially cried after being born in the toilet. She reportedly walked away and later returned to find that the child had stopped crying and moving.
However, investigators say she also admitted that she had watched the baby die. After the infant died, authorities say Demegillo placed the child’s body inside a duffel bag and hid it in a closet inside the house. Instead of contacting emergency services or asking for help, investigators say she left the home and continued with her normal activities. She reportedly attended classes at the college, where she is studying forensic science, and later went to a theater performance in a nearby city.
Authorities say Demegillo returned home later that night, around 10 p.m. At that point, investigators say she removed the baby’s body from the duffel bag, wrapped the infant in a towel, and carried the body outside. In the backyard of the home, she dug a shallow grave and buried the child. The baby girl, according to officials, weighed 3 pounds and 6 ounces and measured 18.7 inches long. The situation might never have come to light if not for a message Demegillo sent to a friend on social media describing what had happened. Concerned by the message, the friend contacted authorities and asked them to check on Demegillo. That call triggered a welfare check by deputies.
At approximately 4 a.m. on Friday, March 6, deputies with the sheriff’s office arrived at the home. Demegillo’s mother was also present in the home when deputies arrived. During questioning, Demegillo reportedly led deputies to the location where she had buried the newborn. Investigators began digging in the backyard and quickly uncovered the burial site. Deputies removed about four to five inches of dirt before finding the baby’s body.
The discovery launched a full investigation by the sheriff’s office’s Major Case Unit and Crime Scene Investigation team. After examining the evidence, investigators concluded that the infant had been born alive and that Demegillo had “knowingly and purposefully allowed the newborn to drown in the toilet.” Officials also noted that Demegillo appeared to show little emotion while speaking with investigators. According to authorities, she reportedly showed no visible sadness or remorse during questioning.
Following the discovery of the baby’s body and the statements gathered during the investigation, deputies arrested Demegillo. She was charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, a serious felony under Florida law. Officials also pointed out that Florida has a Safe Haven Law, which allows parents to surrender an unharmed newborn up to 30 days old at a fire station, hospital, or law enforcement agency without facing criminal consequences.
Authorities emphasized that the option existed had Demegillo chosen to seek help. Demegillo was taken into custody and expected to be booked into jail as the investigation continues. The sheriff’s office said the case remains under investigation and asked anyone with additional information to contact authorities. For now, the criminal case against Demegillo will move through the legal system as prosecutors determine the next steps in a case that began with an unexpected birth and ended with the tragic death of a newborn child.
