Seminary Student Sentenced For Leaving Newborn In Trash Can To Die

A student at a Texas seminary school has been sentenced to five years for abandoning her newborn baby in the garbage, resulting in the child's death.

Natalie Annell Weaver of Springfield, Missouri, pleaded guilty to a 2nd degree felony charge of manslaughter and to a state jail felony charge of abuse of a corpse on Wednesday. The 21-year-old had given birth to a baby girl on April 17, 2018 before dumping the infant into a trash can.

Ellis County District Attorney Patrick Wilson described the crime as "horrific" and "inhumane."

"A precious newborn was literally thrown in the garbage by her own mother. It’s both shocking and mind-boggling. And it didn’t have to happen," Wilson said, according to KWTX of Woodway, Texas.

Police officers had been called to the Southwestern Assembly of God University in Waxahachie, Texas for a welfare check following reports about a student giving birth at the dormitory. Officers found wet and dry blood at various locations in the facility before discovering the dead infant.

Natalie Weaver Photo: Ellis County Sheriff's Office

Weaver at first denied giving birth to the child. Officers say she failed to seek medical assistance during the birth of the baby, who was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around its neck.

Weave ultimately surrendered to police on November 13, 2018 after being indicted one month prior.

“Texas has a Baby Moses Law that allows and encourages mothers to take unwanted infants to designated safe havens, such as hospitals or fire stations," said Wilson in a statement, according to CBS 11 of Grapevine, Texas. "All Weaver had to do was take her baby to one of those locations, just minutes away. She would have avoided prosecution and, more importantly, her baby girl would probably still be alive. Please let this be a reminder to young mothers in distress that there are safe alternatives. The gift of life is too important to throw away.”