A 20-year-old Palm Coast woman has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of her newborn, according to authorities.
Anne Mae Demegillo was indicted by a Flagler County grand jury Monday after investigators said she left her newborn to die in a toilet.
According to a charging affidavit, Demegillo gave birth in a toilet at her residence during the early morning hours of March 5.
During an interrogation, she admitted to watching the baby die and removing the body and hiding it in a bedroom closet.
Investigators said Demegillo later went to school and participated in a play.
After returning home that evening, she buried the newborn in a shallow grave in her backyard.
A friend reported the death to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office on March 6 after Demegillo disclosed what happened, according to the affidavit.
A monthlong investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Major Case Unit found that Demegillo had searched online for terms including “newborn premature babies,” “Palm Coast OBGYN” and “foods to decrease fertility,” according to a Sheriff’s Office social media post.
Authorities also said images of Casey Anthony and newborn babies were found on her phone.
In addition to the murder charge, Demegillo faces charges of aggravated child abuse and failure to report a death with intent to conceal or alter evidence, according to a State Attorney’s Office press release.
Demegillo surrendered to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and is being held without bond.
“It’s hard to comprehend how a mother would choose to watch their infant drown instead of lifting the baby out of the toilet,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said. “I commend our investigators who followed every lead and our digital forensics team that uncovered the evidence to prove this tragic case was a premeditated murder.”
