Last Updated: April 7, 9:57 a.m.
April 7 Update: Anne Mae Demegillo was in court before Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols for her first appearance hearing since the grand jury indicted her on a first-degree murder charge. Nichols ordered that Demegillo be held on no bond on the murder charge, on $25,000 bond on the aggravated child abuse charge, and on $5,000 bond on a charge of failure to report a death with intent to conceal it. Her attorney, Michael Politis, opted to defer further proceedings to a hearing later this month.
April 6–A Flagler County grand jury today indicted Anne Mae Demegillo, the 20-year-old Palm Coast college student who in early March gave birth to a girl in a toilet in her house and watched her die, on a first-degree murder charge, among other charges.
At the time of her arrest after describing to Flagler County Sheriff’s detectives the succession of events that ended with her burying the newborn in her backyard at her Florida Park Drive house, she had been charged with aggravated manslaughter. But authorities cautioned that the State Attorney’s office could add to, or change, the charges.
The grand jury, meeting behind closed doors this afternoon, as grand juries always do, also indicted Demegillo on charges of aggravated child abuse, a first-degree felony, and failure to report a death with intent to conceal it, a misdemeanor. The baby’s gestational age was was between 30 and 36 weeks, according to a medical examiner report cited in court.
Demegillo had posted bail on a $250,000 bond after a hearing in mid-March, and was due in court Tuesday morning for her arraignment on the manslaughter charge. Later this month, she was due back in court for a motion her attorney, Michael Politis, filed, seeking to loosen the terms of her pre-trial bond. Demegillo wanted permission to attend college classes in Volusia County.
The indictment was followed this evening with her rearrest and booking at the Flagler County jail after Demegillo turned herself in. The jail’s site referred to a $30,000 bond, though the figure appears to be incorrect. A sheriff’s release stated that she was being held on no bond pending her first appearance before a judge, where the bond amount will be set. The rearrest may alter the sequence of court appearances and expected motions.
The sheriff’s release revealed that in the month since Demegillo’s arrest and as the investigation continued, “detectives uncovered additional facts including searches on Demegillo’s phone for ‘newborn premature babies,’ ‘Palm Coast OBGYN,’ and ‘foods to decrease fertility.’ Also located on her phone were images of Casey Anthony and newborn babies, which suggest searches on the death of a child and subsequent investigation.”
Casey Anthony is the Orlando mother whose toddler Caylee disappeared in 2008 and whose remains were found five months later not far from her house. Casey Anthony was indicted by a grand jury on first degree murder, aggravated manslaughter, aggravated child abuse and other lesser charges. A jury found her not guilty on all but the lesser charges of lying to police.
The vague similarities between the two cases are not as pronounced as differences that leave no doubt about Demegillo’s role and responsibility.
“Obviously the State Attorney found that our evidence proved intent, and so did the grand jury,” Sheriff Rick Staly said in an interview this evening. “She told us initially that she didn’t realize that she was pregnant, and later on changed it to ‘I wasn’t sure I was pregnant,’ but the evidence suggests she clearly knew that she was pregnant.” The searches were conducted while she was pregnant, the sheriff specified. Demegillo had told detectives previously that she didn’t seek help because she didn’t want her mother–who was in the house at the time of the infant’s death–to find out that she had been pregnant.
“We have done our job at this point,” the sheriff said. “We have thoroughly investigated it, turned over all our findings to the State Attorney, and the grand jury returned a true bill, which is what they say when they say–yes, the facts support these criminal charges. Our next par now is to be good witnesses and present the evidence when it goes to trial. We have done a very thorough and well done investigation.”
Staly said the deputy who was among the first at the scene and learned of the infant’s burial ran to the backyard and dug the shallow grave with bare hands, hoping to find the child still breathing.
“This is one of those tragic cases that shock you to your core that a mother would allow a newborn to die because the newborn was a distraction to her life,” Staly was quoted as saying in the release. “It’s hard to comprehend how a mother would choose to watch their infant drown instead of lifting the baby out of the toilet.” He commended investigators and the agency’s Digital Forensics team that uncovered the digital evidence and thanked State Attorney R.J. Larizza and his office “for reviewing the facts of our investigation and the Grand Jury for doing a very difficult job.”
Staly said he expected Politis to provide “a rigorous defense” of his client. Assistant State Attorney Andrew Urbanak is prosecuting the case before Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols.
Wendy says
The mental capacity is proved o be an issue. Sh was so afraid to tell her mother. She was in fear.
She could not rationalize what steroids were available to her.
It does give all mothers with daughters to open these doors and have this conversation about contraception and if you get pregnant this is how life would change.
I’m sorry this little babies first breaths were met with human brutality.
If we learn from this anything it’s to talk to our children and ask them hard questions , put them on birth control even when they tell you they are not doing anything. Most children can not look you in your face and say oh yea I’m having sex. This goes for males and females.
Concerned Citizen says
The Mental Health excuse grows tiresome.
She planned this. And knew what she was doing. I have no remorse or sympathy for her. I choose to save that for her baby. Who never stood a chance.
There are too many resources out there. That would have saved that baby’s life.
Greg says
With soft on crime judge Nichols, this girl will most likely walk away with a slap on the hand.
Tina says
Men have no right to comment
Skibum says
Unless this woman is actually Mary Magdalene, the mother of Jesus who’s conception was the singular time in all of history when a birth occurred without the involvement of a man… YES, dear… men have every right to comment on this criminal act of murder. And I gaurandamntee you men will have a say so in her eventual conviction and prison incarceration too!
No kid Tim says
Then men shouldn’t have to pay . Tina
Mothersworry says
Well,that’s a BS response. I’m a man, so let me declare that up front. I have female granddaughters, and great granddaughters. Reading this a couple of things come to mind. Her feeling of great fear from relations also shame given her upbringing. Lack of education and lack of knowledge as to what aid was available to her.
It’s a horrible situation that’s a given, hopefully she will get the help she needs
Atwp says
Tina whether you like it or not, I’m going to comment. You sound like the old USA when they said people of color didn’t have a right to do anything but yes sa master. A male was involved, otherwise there would be no baby.
JC says
Yep, most likely life in prison. Also I wouldn’t be surprised if they attempt to do the death penalty, but that is unlikely.
JC says
It’s unfortunate this woman couldn’t get the help she needed. Everything screams mental illness & depression as well as abuse.
She’ll get off on a mental defense.
JC says
Not really. From the evidence there’s enough to get her on first degree murder and possible death sentence because it was premediated. Most likely if the state does a plea deal it will most likely be life in prison. If the defendant declines that deal then she is risking having a jury trial where the jury here in Flagler County are not going to be on her side of metal health at all. If no jury trail, she would have to convince the judge of a lighter sentence, which is impossible since there’s no wiggle room for a first degree murder conviction per the law.
Skibum says
No way, JC. She knew exactly what she was doing, much sooner than some people thought because there is evidence she researched several things regarding her pregnancy prior to the baby being born. She had the opportunity to seek help, but instead she lied about knowing she was pregnant.
There was no mental illness, just intent to hide the pregnancy and birth, so she concealed herself in the bathroom and let the newborn drown in the toilet. She probably thought or maybe tried to flush it, but was unsuccessful and then thought she could get away with burying it in the back yard.
Every single thing she did was intentional in order to conceal the fact that she got herself pregnant, with zero concern for the human life she ended. The 1st degree murder charge is warranted, but I wouldn’t be surprised if during trial she pleads to a lesser charge or is found guilty of a lesser charge at trial. In either case, she will likely spend years in prison for her criminal actions.
Judith G. Michaud says
What a terrible tragedy! This young woman was probably so terrified and confused! Giving birth is very painful and add that to fear. While she needs to be punished for her neglect to save her baby, I don’t see this as first degree murder and I would bet if she had blonde hair and blue eyes this would not be the case. Very sad for all parties involved!
Land of no turn signals says says
You would be wrong.
Atwp says
Not sure how it will end. Am sure this is a sad situation. A dead baby a hurting young woman need loving attention and medical help. This isn’t an isolated case, I believe this happens worldwide daily. A sad story but a real story. The real world can be a mean world. Hope she get the help she needs.
Land of no turn signals says says
She could have gotten help but choose not to,That’s on her.All she had to do was drive the baby to the fire house we all know that if not Goggle it.Where are all the Pro Life protesters?Probably busy at another No Kings rally.
Dee says
She lived right down the street from a fire house…No excuse..she knew what she was doing at 20 years old
Me says
Very sad for all involved, a loss of a baby, a pregnant child herself too frightened to speak to her own parents, no one to reach out for help.
I’m sure there are more of these sad stories then we realize.
Non-judgemental comment says
Lot’s of judgemental comments from people on this site.
I remember back in 1990 a young woman in this town (Palm Coast) was presenting herself as an unwed mother. She was still living in her parent’s house. One of my family members was very close to this woman and was told the real story. Apparently the young woman’s father had been having sex with his daughter and the outcome was the baby, which was being presented as the product of an unwed mother and missing boyfriend. In fact, the young woman was covering for her own father and incest in the family. The mother was going along with it. I often think about that woman when I hear stories like this. Women have to cover up a lot to protect others. I’m not insinuating incest in this young woman’s case, but if you are employed in any aspect of healthcare, you know the stories.
Who’s the actual father of this dead baby? Why no comments about him not stepping up to the plate? Why does the father of the baby always get to go on with his life without any repercussions? Why is the woman always judged harshly?
I’ve seen posts from women on Facebook regarding this woman, and those comments are vicious and vile. Some of those comments are from women business owners in this town. I’d love to name names of these nice kind women business owners. I’ll bet many of those Facebook vicious comments come from good “Christians” who show up in church on Sundays.
A 20 year old woman was too emotionally and mentally immature to know how to deal with what happened to her. Maybe she couldn’t go to her parents about it because . . . see my comments above regarding incest in families, which is very common. Maybe she shut down emotionally. There are many reasons for what people do and how they handle things. She’s only 20 years old for God’s sake. Some people are still very emotionally immature at 20.
People on this site and on Facebook (especially the women) remind me of the mob in the Bible who called for the crucifixion of Jesus. Women are the worst when it comes to treatment of other women.
Take a good look says
Non judgmental yes in some circumstances you are correct. But the forensic facts of the matter, and also how events unfolded that were substantiated through interviews with the woman, and the physical evidence show a very different story if you read the article . So tragic for all involved.
King yemma says
For those who disagree with the death penalty I believe this one you can not defend killing a defenseless baby a newborn at that she deserves death
Atwp says
King you talk about the death penalty, if that is the case what about a certain group of cops killing a certain group of people and get away with it? If any group of people being on death row it should be murderous cops. Qualified immunity is one reason so many people of color are dead today and white peoples too.
King yemma says
I believe If you take someones life then that person deserves the death penalty especially if it’s a cop who unjustifiably killed someone I don’t like qualified immunity I think it’s stupid cops should be held accountable sadly that’s not the case and they can just find work elsewhere
Paul Larkin says
Just to set the record straight in reference to Skibum’s 4/7 entry. While Mary Magdalene is recorded scripturally to be an important person in the life of Jesus, she is not the Mary reported to be the Mother of Jesus.
Land of no turn signals says says
What we have here is a Casey Anthony in training.