Crime

 

Woman who threw newborn in trash charged with attempted murder

By Dave Andrusko

Briana Holland

A 22-year-old Indianapolis woman, accused of giving birth last Friday to a baby boy in the restroom of her job and then dumping him in the trash before going back to work, was formally charged today.
Briana Holland is being held on $50,000 bond. The baby, miraculously, is alive and doing well at Riley Hospital, according to The Department of Child Services.
“According to court documents, the lower half of the baby’s body was wrapped in a brown paper bag and the head was wrapped in a separate paper bag,” reported WRTV 6’s Derrik Thomas. “Toilet tissue was wrapped approximately 15 times around his neck and a tampon applicator and tissue were stuffed in the baby’s mouth.”

The maintenance worker who found the child in the restroom of the United Technology Carrier Corporation building, “said the baby’s face was purple and body was cold,” Thomas reported. “The baby was gasping for air and suddenly stopped. The worker slapped the baby on the butt and the baby started to cry.”

According to WRTV 6, Holland is charged with 1 count of attempted murder; 3 counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious injury; 1 count of battery; and 1 count of neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury.

Holland, who along with her twin sister had registered for classes at Kaplan College earlier on Friday, was asked by investigators what she thought would happen to the baby. According to court documents , Holland said, “I knew what the results would probably be. It would probably die.”
Investigators asked if she was “cool” with the baby dying. “I’m never cool with anyone dying,” Holland said. “I wasn’t expecting it to live. I threw it in the can.”

WRTV 6 also reported that “In court documents Holland’s boyfriend said she had a prior abortion and didn’t want to disappoint her mother with another pregnancy.”
There is a fire station directly across the street from the factory. “According to [Indiana's] Safe Haven Law, Holland could have dropped the baby off, no questions asked, at any fire station, police station or hospital emergency room,” Thomas reported.

Capt. Mike Pruitt with Wayne Township Fire Department told Thomas
“We continue to drive that message home over and over and over as the days go on and hopefully, it sinks in with folks. So if there is anyone else out there that runs into this same situation that they’re gonna make the right choice and bring the child to a police station, fire station or hospital.”

Source: NRLC News