By Kiley Petracek
TAMPA, Fla. — A freshman at The University of Tampa gave birth in her dorm bathroom the weekend prior to finals week, on Apr. 27, 2024 according to an affidavit. Several months later, former UTampa student Brianna Moore, 19, was arrested in Quitman, Mississippi.
According to a statement from the City of Tampa and multiple sources including AP, Moore has been charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, failure to report death, unlawful storage of human remains, and child neglect with great bodily harm as of Oct. 18.
Students called Campus Safety to McKay Hall when they thought they heard a baby crying in another dorm room. Campus Safety referred the call to emergency medical services. When EMS came to check on Moore’s wellbeing, she stated she was menstruating, according to the affidavit.
Police were called the next evening when Campus Safety found a deceased fetus inside of a trash bag. According to the affidavit, Moore was unaware she was pregnant at the time of the incident.
The trash and recycling bins outside of McKay Hall are allegedly where Campus Safety was called to retrieve the trash bag. Photo courtesy of Kiley Petracek.
“The entire working shift of Campus Safety was involved at some point,” said Kevin Howell, director of Campus Safety. Campus Safety’s involvement spanned the entire duration of the incident from the dispatch on that Saturday, as they worked with EMS and the Tampa Police Department.
“Not all at one time, but over the time frame it was managed or assisted by every officer and supervisor on shift,” said Howell.
According to a press release from the State Attorney’s Office, the autopsy revealed the infant had multiple fractured ribs along her spine and hemorrhaging in her lungs. The State Attorney’s Office ruled the manner of death to be homicide.
“It breaks my heart to know that this baby girl could still be alive today if this woman had alerted authorities that she needed help,” said State Attorney Suzy Lopez in a press release. “Our community must continue to educate women about the many resources available to them in situations like this one. This baby’s death was avoidable.”
Moore will be extradited to Hillsborough County to face charges.
As of April 2024, Florida’s Safe Haven Law allows parents to anonymously surrender unharmed infants to medical personnel or a fire station for up to a week after giving birth. The law was updated in July, extending the period to 30 days. The law now authorizes dispatchers to organize the infant drop-off service when parents have a lack of transportation.
Expecting parents that are under unfortunate circumstances can contact:
A Safe Haven for Newborns (Confidential, Bilingual, in Florida): (877) 767-2229
Crisis Center of Tampa Bay: 211
Florida Department of Health, Maternal & Child Health: (850) 245-4047
A Safe Haven for Newborns- National Hotline: (844) 767-2229
For mental health services on campus at UTampa, contact the Dickey Health and Wellness Center at (813) 253-6250.
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Thumbnail Image: McKay Hall, the honors dorms, is where former UTampa student Brianna Moore lived during her freshman year. Photo courtesy of Kiley Petracek.