A Florida college student is facing serious criminal charges after authorities say she allowed her newborn baby to drown shortly after giving birth, then continued with her day as if nothing had happened.
According to a report published by the New York Post, 20-year-old Anne Mae Demegillo of Palm Coast, Florida, was arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child after investigators uncovered the disturbing sequence of events surrounding the infant’s death.
Deputies with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office were first alerted early Friday morning after receiving a welfare call connected to messages Demegillo allegedly sent to someone she knew. In those messages, she reportedly said she had secretly been pregnant and had done something to her newborn baby. Concerned about what might have happened, authorities went to her home to investigate.
When deputies arrived, Demegillo reportedly directed them to a shallow grave in her backyard. Investigators said the remains of the baby were buried just a few inches beneath the soil. Officials believe the burial occurred the previous evening.
During questioning, Demegillo allegedly told investigators that she had given birth to the child in the toilet inside her home. Authorities say she admitted that the baby was alive after the delivery, crying and moving, but that she watched as the infant drowned.
The newborn girl weighed about 3 pounds and 6 ounces and measured just under 19 inches long, according to investigators.
After the birth and the baby’s death, officials say Demegillo placed the infant’s body inside a duffel bag and stored it in a closet before later burying the remains in her yard.
Perhaps most shocking to investigators was what happened afterward. Authorities say Demegillo continued with her routine, attending classes at Daytona State College and even participating in a performance with a local theater group the same day.
Flagler County Sheriff’s officials said they were stunned by what they described as Demegillo’s calm demeanor during interviews with police.
“It baffles me,” Chief Deputy Joe Barile said during a press conference discussing the case, noting that investigators struggled to understand the apparent lack of emotion shown during questioning.
Demegillo reportedly told authorities she did not realize she was pregnant until the moment she gave birth. Officials also said no one else in the household appeared to know about the pregnancy beforehand.
Her mother was reportedly present at the home when deputies arrived, but investigators say there is no indication at this time that anyone else was involved in the baby’s death.
Authorities say Demegillo acknowledged that what happened was wrong, though officials noted they did not observe signs of remorse during interviews.
The investigation remains ongoing as detectives continue gathering information and reviewing evidence related to the case. Demegillo is currently being held in the Flagler County Jail as the legal process moves forward.
The case has shocked the local community and drawn widespread attention due to the tragic circumstances surrounding the newborn’s death and the unusual details that followed.
