A former Ohio college student was sentenced to life in prison without parole for killing her newborn baby at a sorority house at Muskingum University.
The former student and mother, Emile Weaver, 21, gave birth to her daughter in her Delta Gamma Theta sorority house back in April 22, 2015. Shortly after giving birth, she disposed of her newborn in a trash bag. The baby was found later by her sorority sisters later that day and was found out to have died of asphyxiation.
Weaver has pleaded not guilty initially by reason of insanity but the judge has ruled that she was mentally competent to stand trial for the murder. She also shared during her trial that she was in denial throughout her pregnancy and thought that the baby was added when she placed her in the garbage bag. She named the baby Addison Grace.
The defense attorney of Weaver claims that the baby possibly died before childbirth and that after being cross-examined by prosecutor Michael Haddox, Weaver admitted that she tried to cause a miscarriage after she drank alcohol and took supplements while she was pregnant with the baby. The argument of the lawyer of Weaver was proven wrong after Dr. Jeffrey Lee, the deputy coroner on the case, testified that the X-ray images showed that the baby was able to take several breaths after being born.
Weaver has been found guilty by a jury of aggravated murder, tampering with evidence, and abuse of corpse. Prior to her sentencing this week, Weaver read a letter in court saying that she has asked for forgiveness from God and "...all I can do is ask for all of yours," The Columbus Dispatch reported. Despite the last minute attempt to sway Muskingum County Common Pleas Judge Mark Fleegle for a lighter sentence, the judge handling the case said that he did not believe Weaver was remorseful for her actions.
It was also found out that text messages from Weaver and the man she thought was the baby's father reads: "No more baby" and "taken care of." DNA tests showed that the man she sent the text to is not the father of her child.
Weaver plans to appeal her conviction.
