MARION COUNTY, Fla. — A Florida woman has been charged in the death of her newborn daughter, who was found dead face down in a hotel trash can.
Deputies began investigating in March after a friend of Jodi Leann Alexander, 26, found the dead baby in Alexander's hotel room.
When investigators got to the hotel room, Alexander said she did not want to be charged with murder and that the baby was dead when it was born.
She was taken to Marion County Jail for two out-of-county warrants for possession of Oxycodone with intent to sell and sale of Oxycodone.
Investigators determined Alexander had given birth to baby Chance, placed her face down in a trash can and covered the baby's body in towels to attempt to conceal her death.
A medical examiner said Chance was born alive and bled to death after the umbilical cord was torn.
The medical examiner also determined Chance had a generic form of Xanax and a prescription pain medication in her system at the time of the baby's death.
Her death was ruled a homicide.
During an interview at the Marion County Jail, Alexander told police that she attempted to call 911 for assistance for her child but was unable to place the call after giving birth.
Investigators said Alexander did not notify anyone about Chance's birth.
Alexander was charged Aug. 1 with aggravated manslaughter of a child and is being held without bond at the Marion County Jail.