An Indianapolis mother tells investigators she “was confused” when she abandoned her newborn baby in a trash can shortly after giving birth.
According to WTHR, 22-year-old Briana Holland gave birth to a boy earlier this month in the bathroom of her workplace, United Technology Carrier Corp. Later that night, a co-worker found the child in the trash can, still alive.
Police reports state the baby had toilet paper wrapped tightly around his neck, a plastic tampon applicator in his mouth and a paper bag over his head. The coworker told authorities it was difficult to get the tampon applicator out of the boy’s mouth and his face was purple while his body was cold.
Holland’s co-worker said the baby was gasping for air and stopped breathing, prompting the employee to begin thumping the child on the chest. When the newborn began breathing and crying, the employee wrapped the baby inside his shirt and pinched the umbilical cord to stop the bleeding until it could be cut.
The newborn is said to be in good condition at Riley Hospital for Children and is in the custody of workers from the Department of Child Services.
When questioned why she abandoned the baby, Holland said, “I mean, I was confused. I didn’t know what I wanted to happen.”
Investigators then asked her if she knew the baby would die, in which she replied, “Mmm Hmm.” She said she “wasn’t expecting it to live” because she threw it in a trash can.
Photo courtesy of IMPD
Holland now faces charges of attempted murder, several counts of neglect of a dependent and battery resulting in serious injury on a child under 14 years old. A judge entered a preliminary not guilty plea on Holland’s behalf during a court hearing on Wednesday.