Video above: (Previous report) Baby dies after student gives birth in University of Tampa dorm bathroom, records show

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The mother of a baby found dead in a trash can on the University of Tampa campus earlier this year was charged in the infant’s death, the Tampa Police Department announced Friday.

Brianna Moore, 19, was charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, child neglect with great bodily harm, failure to report death, and unlawful storage of human remains.

Moore was arrested Friday in Quitman, Mississippi and awaits extradition to Hillsborough County.

On April 27, Moore’s roommates reported hearing a baby crying and finding blood in the bathroom of their UT dorm room. UT police sent an ambulance to check on Moore, who denied she was pregnant and claimed the blood was from her menstrual period.

The next day, the roommates found a bloody towel in Moore’s trash can and called police again. They discovered a newborn baby girl deceased and wrapped in a towel.

According to the State Attorney’s Office, Moore told police she gave birth in the dorm bathroom and held the baby tight to her body until she stopped crying. An autopsy report indicated the baby had multiple fractured ribs and hemorrhaging in her lungs and ruled the death a 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,” State Attorney Suzy Lopez said in a statement. “Instead, she took actions that directly led to the death of her newborn baby.”

Officials said they want to remind the community of Florida’s Safe Haven Law, which allows parents to anonymously surrender a newborn up to 30 days after birth. Unharmed infants can be surrendered to any fire station, EMS station or hospital staffed by EMTs, with no questions asked.

“This is a difficult and nuanced case to prosecute, and 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,” Lopez said.

Expectant mothers facing difficult circumstances can contact the following resources:

• The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay: Dial 211
• Florida Department of Health, Maternal & Child Health Section: (850) 245-4047
• The National Safe Haven Alliance Hotline: (888) 510-BABY (2229)