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WAXAHACHIE – On Wednesday, July 10, in the 40th Judicial District Court of Ellis County, Natalie Annell Weaver, 21, of Springfield, Missouri., pleaded guilty to a 2nd degree felony charge of manslaughter and to a state jail felony charge of abuse of a corpse.
In exchange for her pleas of guilty, Weaver was sentenced to five years confinement for the manslaughter charge and to 400 days confinement for the abuse of corpse charge.
On Apr. 17, 2018, Waxahachie Police officers were dispatched for a welfare check in a dormitory on the campus of Southwestern Assembly of God University.
It was reported that Weaver, a student, possibly gave birth to a baby in the dorm, and the police needed to investigate.
Upon arrival, officers observed “multiple locations with both wet and dried blood.” Officers then located a deceased female newborn in a plastic bag inside a trashcan.
According to an Ellis County District Attorney release, Weaver denied giving birth to the baby.
It was obvious from evidence gathered during the investigation Weaver delivered the baby in a dormitory bathroom.
The release stated Weaver failed to seek any medical assistance for the baby, born with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck.
An Ellis County grand jury indicted Weaver on Oct. 10, 2018.
Weaver turned herself into the Wayne McCollum Detention Center at 9:59 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. She posted the $35,000 bond and was released from custody at 10:54 a.m. the same day.
After Weaver was sentenced, Ellis County & District Attorney Patrick Wilson issued the following statement:
“I want to commend the Waxahachie Police Department for their work on this emotional case.
“This was a horrific and inhumane crime. A precious newborn was literally thrown in the garbage by her own mother. It’s both shocking and mind-boggling. And it didn’t have to happen.
“Texas has a Baby Moses Law that allows and encourages mothers to take unwanted infants to designated safe havens, such as hospitals or fire stations. All Weaver had to do was take her baby to one of those locations, just minutes away.
“She would have avoided prosecution and, more importantly, her baby girl would probably still be alive. Please let this be a reminder to young mothers in distress that there are safe alternatives. The gift of life is too important to throw away.”
For more information on Texas’ Baby Moses Law, visit https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_ Protection/ Child_ Safety/Resources/ baby_moses.asp
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