Florida – In a heartbreaking case from Florida, a 23-year-old woman identified as B. Desouza has pleaded guilty to charges connected to the death of her newborn son, who suffocated in her bed after she failed to seek help during an unexpected home birth. Desouza, who was 19 at the time, entered a guilty plea in county court to aggravated manslaughter of a child and neglect of a child causing great bodily harm.
The charges stem from a tragic chain of events that unfolded on May 2, 2022. That afternoon, sheriff’s deputies and fire rescue crews responded to a 911 call from Desouza’s mother, who said she had entered her daughter’s room and found the newborn unresponsive. First responders rushed the baby to a hospital, but doctors were unable to save him. He was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Investigators later learned that Desouza went into labor unexpectedly that day, one day before her scheduled induction. She delivered the baby alone in her bedroom while wearing boxer shorts and never attempted to move him or adjust her position. According to her statement, she held the baby until he stopped crying, then left him on the bed and went to take a shower. Instead of alerting anyone, she later lay down in her mother’s bed.
“She said the birth happened quickly, and [she] did not know [he] was dead until her mom came in,” the affidavit stated. When questioned by detectives, Desouza said she was “really confused” and that the birth “didn’t hurt.” She admitted, “I just sat there and watched him cry. I didn’t know what to do, so I just looked at him.” She added, “I just didn’t do anything and I’m so mad. It was like my body stopped working.” Desouza said she believed the baby had fallen asleep and did not realize something was wrong until her mother found him.
A medical examiner later ruled the baby’s death was caused by asphyxia due to chest compression. The report stated the infant was likely delivered through the leg opening of Desouza’s boxer shorts, which pressed his face against her thigh and restricted his breathing. Authorities said Desouza never moved, adjusted her clothing, or attempted to help the newborn after the birth. “[Desouza] did not attempt to move herself, remove clothing, reposition the baby, pick up, comfort, seek medical attention, or otherwise care for the child,” investigators wrote.
Following the incident, Desouza was admitted to a behavioral health center, where she disclosed a history of depression and self-harm. She told staff she had stopped taking her prescribed antidepressant about two weeks before giving birth. Her mother later informed investigators that Desouza had been diagnosed with psychosis and bipolar disorder and had shown severe stress related to the pregnancy and plans to place the baby for adoption.
Desouza remained under psychiatric care for more than a week and was released on May 11, 2022. She was arrested in December 2023, more than a year later, after investigators completed their case and filed criminal charges. With her guilty plea now entered, Desouza faces a possible sentence ranging from nearly 15 years to a maximum of 45 years in prison. Her sentencing is set for January 29, 2026.
As the case moves toward sentencing, it leaves behind a haunting picture of a young woman paralyzed by fear, illness, and confusion, and a newborn left helpless in his first moments of life. Prosecutors have described Desouza’s inaction as a fatal choice, while the defense is expected to point to her mental health history as a key factor in the tragedy. No matter the outcome in court, one life has been lost, and another now awaits judgment, both forever shaped by a moment when a cry was heard and then went silent.
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