Student killed newborn girl after giving birth in dorm, dumped body in trash: Police

Brianna Moore, a 19-year-old University of Tampa student, was arrested in Mississippi after allegedly giving birth in her dorm bathroom, then killing the newborn and disposing of the body.

She faces charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child and child neglect with great bodily harm, among other counts, according to the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office.

Moore’s roommates in McKay Hall alerted authorities on April 27 after hearing a baby’s cries and discovering blood on the bathroom floor. When paramedics checked on Moore, she denied pregnancy, attributing the blood to her menstrual cycle.

However, the following day, roommates discovered a bloody towel in Moore’s trash can and contacted police again. Officers unwrapped the towel and found the deceased baby inside.

Moore admitted to police that she delivered the baby in the bathroom, held the newborn tightly to her body until she stopped crying, then placed her in the trash.

Moore reportedly believed the baby was dead, then showered, cleaned the newborn with water, and placed her on her bedroom floor before falling asleep. Upon waking up, Moore wrapped the baby in a towel and placed her in the trash can.

An autopsy determined the baby died from asphyxiation due to torso compression, with fractured ribs and lung hemorrhaging. The death was ruled a homicide.

State Attorney Suzy Lopez expressed heartbreak, noting that Florida’s Safe Haven Law allows people to safely relinquish newborns within 30 days at any hospital or fire station, no questions asked.

Lopez emphasized that Moore’s dorm was near both a fire station and Tampa General Hospital, making it easy for her to safely surrender the baby.

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“For crying out loud, there’s a fire station across the street from the University of Tampa,” Lopez said, appearing to hold back tears, during a press conference. “Tampa General Hospital is a mere two to three minutes away by car.”

“This baby’s death was avoidable,” Lopez said, urging the community to educate women on the resources available for crisis pregnancies and newborn care.