FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — Authorities in Flagler County are investigating the death of a newborn baby after deputies say a 20-year-old Daytona State College student led investigators to a shallow grave in the backyard of a home.
The woman, identified by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office as Anne Mae Demegillo, could face aggravated manslaughter charges, though officials said she had not yet been formally charged as of Friday while investigators continue reviewing the case.
Deputies responded to the home after Demegillo told authorities she had recently given birth and directed them to where the infant had been buried.
According to Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Joseph Barile, Demegillo told investigators she was not certain she was pregnant until she delivered the baby in the middle of the night Thursday.
Investigators say the infant was delivered in a toilet inside the home.
When deputies arrived, Demegillo led them to a shallow grave in the backyard, where the baby had been buried roughly 24 hours after the birth, Barile said.
The infant, who authorities said weighed about three pounds, had not been given a name and was found wrapped in a towel.
The medical examiner has not yet determined the cause of death, and investigators say the case remains active.
“It’s tragic for the child,” Barile said during a briefing. “For everyone, it baffles me.”
Detectives also say Demegillo shared details about the birth in messages sent to another person on social media, including statements indicating she had given birth and needed to get rid of the baby.
Barile said investigators reviewed an interview with Demegillo that raised additional concerns.
“I watched the interview and I didn’t see any remorse,” Barile said, adding that she appeared “oddly calm.”
Authorities say Demegillo is expected to be arrested once she is medically cleared, though the investigation remains ongoing as officials await additional findings from the medical examiner.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about the case to contact investigators.
