College student kills her newborn baby after giving birth in her dorm

TAMPA, FL – A college student has been charged after an infant was found dead on the University of Tampa campus, police reported.

Nineteen-year-old Brianna Moore was arrested over the weekend in Mississippi in connection with the infant’s death, according to a press release from the Tampa Police Department. She is facing charges, including aggravated manslaughter of a child, child neglect resulting in great harm, failing to report a death and unlawful storage of human remains.

The investigation began on April 27 when university staff were reportedly alarmed by a possible miscarriage on campus. Shortly after, an infant’s body was discovered and identified as belonging to Moore, based on the autopsy findings. The cause of death was determined to be asphyxia, compounded by multiple rib fractures, ultimately classified as a homicide.

Moore is currently in custody in Lauderdale County, awaiting extradition back to Florida. According to Hillsborough State Attorney Suzy Lopez, Moore’s roommates had heard a baby crying before finding bloodstains in their shared bathroom. When police were summoned, Moore denied being pregnant, attributing the blood to her menstrual cycle.

The following day, Moore’s roommates found a bloody towel in their trashcan, prompting another call to authorities. Officers arrived to discover the newborn wrapped in a towel inside the bin.

Moore confessed to authorities that she gave birth to the child in the bathroom. According to the police report, Moore said she held the baby tightly until it stopped crying, wrapped it in a towel, and placed it in the trash.

Florida’s Safe Haven Law, intended to prevent such tragedies, allows parents to surrender infants up to 30 days old anonymously and without legal prosecution, provided they show no signs of abuse. Such infants can be left at any hospital, fire station, or EMS station.

The details disclosed by the authorities have raised awareness about the availability and understanding of safe surrender laws, highlighting the resources that offer protection and anonymity for those in crisis.