Warning: this article contains upsetting information. Reader discretion is advised.
CV NEWS FEED // A deceased newborn was found in a garbage bin at the University of Tampa, in Florida last week. Local reports indicate that the mother, a student, gave birth in a dorm bathroom, and the child died shortly after.
“Just before 7:00 pm on April 28, 2024, Tampa Police responded to a report of a deceased infant near McKay Hall at the University of Tampa. Upon arrival, officers located a newborn female wrapped in a towel and placed in a garbage bin,” the Tampa police stated in a news release.
The release added that the police also located the child’s mother, who was transported to a hospital.
“The body of the infant has been transported to the Medical Examiner’s office for autopsy to determine the cause of death and developmental stage,” the statement noted.
The statement also highlighted Florida’s Safe Haven law, which allows for newborn infants up to seven days old to be surrendered anonymously at participating hospitals, EMS stations and fire departments, with no questions asked, barring any evidence of abuse or neglect.
Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw stated, “The loss of a child is always a tragedy. As our department actively investigates this incident, we want all expectant mothers to know there are resources available.”
Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life America, posted on her X account about the tragedy:
While the cause of death is still under investigation, you can’t help but wonder if this situation could have been avoided as there are at least 7 fire stations & 2 hospitals, all Safe Haven locations where a mother can legally surrender her child with no questions, within walking distance of the campus. We must do better for our children.
The mother of the infant is a 19-year-old student at the University of Tampa. She reportedly gave birth to the child in a dorm bathroom on April 27.
WWSB ABC 7 reported: “Police said when they spoke to the woman, she told them she didn’t know she was pregnant but may have been in denial. She admitted to not having a period in approximately one year.”
She told police that around 7:30 a.m. April 27 she began “feeling sick and nauseous,” ABC 7 reported:
Soon after, she gave birth in the adjoining bathroom connecting two dorm rooms. After being born, the baby started crying for approximately five seconds. The woman said she had picked the baby up and put the baby facing forward on her chest, and the baby stopped crying.
She held the baby for several more minutes before setting her down on a towel.
“The woman told police she felt the chest of the baby for a heartbeat and did not feel anything. She reportedly told police she believed the baby was dead at that time,” ABC 7 reported:
She left the baby on the towel and took a shower. The woman then told police she wrapped the baby completely in the towel and took the bundle to her bed and put it on the floor before falling asleep for about an hour.
The mother checked the infant for signs of life at about 11 a.m. but did not see any indication that the child was alive.
“This is when she wrapped the baby back up and put it in her dorm room trash can and went back to sleep,” ABC 7 reported. “Later that day, an ambulance was sent to her dorm room to check her wellbeing. When asked if she was pregnant, she stated that she was not and that she just had a heavy period flow.”
The EMS cleared the situation after the exchange with the student. However, at around 7 p.m. April 28, campus security found the body of the baby girl in the trash bin outside a dormitory building, prompting a police investigation. It is unclear whether the mother will face any criminal charges.
Later that evening, the University notified students about the investigation, instructing them to “avoid the marked areas,” according to the Tampa Bay Times. The alert added: “There is no danger to the University community,”
On April 29, the University of Tampa issued a statement to the campus community addressing the situation, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
“As more details about this investigation emerge, we recognize the University community may have a wide variety of emotional responses to this event. We want to reiterate that there is no danger to the campus community but recognize that, even in the absence of danger, there still may be impact,” the statement reads.
The statement included information about counseling services and a 24-hour crisis hotline, among other resources.
CatholicVote requested comment from the Diocese of St. Petersburg Office of Life, Justice, and Advocacy on the tragedy but did not receive a reply by the time of publication.
