PALM COAST, Fla. – A 20-year-old Flagler County woman accused of letting her newborn drown and burying the infant in her backyard is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.
Prosecutors asked the court to order pretrial detention, saying Demegillo should remain behind bars while the case moves through the legal system.
Investigators say Demegillo told deputies she unexpectedly gave birth at home and watched the newborn girl drown in a toilet. Authorities say she later put the infant in a duffel bag, left to attend class and perform in a play, and buried the child in a shallow grave in her backyard.
News 6 obtained a recording of a phone call from a friend that alerted investigators to Demegillo’s situation.
“My friend told me that she had been secretly pregnant and this morning she had given birth,” said the anonymous caller.
“She’s saying these things, and she seems very mentally disassociated from it,” the caller said.
Sheriff Rick Staly said investigators have evidence they believe shows Demegillo may have known she was pregnant.
“We personally think she knew she was pregnant based on some of the evidence that we have between text messages but we need to prove that.”
Demegillo’s defense team filed a motion asking the court to prevent any statements she made to law enforcement from being released publicly. The motion seeks to limit disclosure of her alleged statements as the case proceeds.
Florida’s Safe Haven law
Under Florida law, a person can legally and anonymously surrender an unharmed infant up to 30 days old to certain safe-haven locations.
Hospitals and many fire stations accept surrendered infants, and some sites are equipped with baby boxes.