Monday, May 20, 2013 | 11:13 p.m.
Hi, (not you?) | Member Center | Sign Out
Posted: 11:23 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28, 2012
comment(71)
LAKELAND, Fla. —
A 14-year-old girl was arrested late Thursday on a first-degree murder charge after her mother found the teen's dead newborn baby in a shoebox among her laundry items, according to Polk County deputies.
The girl told detectives Cassidy Goodson began to feel sick on Sept. 17. Deputies said two days later, the teen went into labor in her bathroom. Goodson said she placed a towel in her mouth and turned on the bathroom water to conceal any noise she might make during the delivery.
As the labor pain increased, deputies said Goodson took a pair of scissors to "pry the baby out."
The infant, a 9.5-pound, 20.4-inch boy, was delivered alive and in the toilet, detectives said.
Goodson lifted the moving infant from the toilet, felt for a pulse, found one, and then placed her hands around the infant's neck and squeezed until he wasn't moving or breathing, deputies said.
Investigators said she then cleaned up the bathroom and bathed herself and the dead infant, before placing him in a shoebox, along with soiled towels and clothing.
Detectives said Goodson, who weighs 100 pounds and is approximately 5-feet-3-inches-tall, had been attempting to conceal her pregnancy from her family by wearing baggy clothing for the past several months.
According to an autopsy report, the boy was a full-term infant and he was alive and breathing prior to death. The cause of death was a result of asphyxia from strangulation and blunt force trauma, said the report.
Goodson told detectives she choked the baby to "stop him from breathing."
Investigators said she was medically screened and cleared prior to being arrested and transported to the Polk County Juvenile Detention Facility.
comment(71)
© 2013 Cox Media Group. By using this website,
you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices
.
Already have an account? Sign In
{* #registrationForm *} {* traditionalRegistration_displayName *} {* traditionalRegistration_emailAddress *} {* traditionalRegistration_password *} {* traditionalRegistration_passwordConfirm *}Already have an account? Sign In
{* #registrationFormBlank *} {* registration_firstName *} {* registration_lastName *} {* traditionalRegistration_displayName *} {* traditionalRegistration_emailAddressBlank *} {* registration_birthday *} {* registration_gender *} {* registration_postalZip *} {* traditionalRegistration_passwordBlank *} {* traditionalRegistration_passwordConfirmBlank *} {* agreeToTerms *}We have sent you a confirmation email. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account.
We look forward to seeing you frequently. Visit us and sign in to update your profile, receive the latest news and keep up to date with mobile alerts.
Don't worry, it happens. We'll send you a link to create a new password.
{* #forgotPasswordForm *} {* forgotPassword_emailAddress *}We have sent you an email with a link to change your password.
We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. Your existing password has not been changed.
To sign in you must verify your email address. Fill out the form below and we'll send you an email to verify.
{* #resendVerificationForm *} {* resendVerification_emailAddress *}Check your email for a link to verify your email address.

You're Almost Done!
Select a display name and password
{* #socialRegistrationForm *} {* socialRegistration_displayName *} {* socialRegistration_emailAddress *} {* traditionalRegistration_password *} {* traditionalRegistration_passwordConfirm *}Tell us about yourself
{* registration_firstName *} {* registration_lastName *} {* registration_postalZip *} {* registration_birthday *} {* registration_gender *} {* agreeToTerms *}