A Florida woman is likely going to be spending decades in jail after doing nothing to save the life of her newborn. Bianca DeSouza, who was 19 at the time of the incident, gave birth to a baby she knew she was having but didn’t plan on keeping. She went into labor sooner than expected, and rather than get herself help, she delivered the baby herself in her home. After giving birth, DeSouza admittedly did nothing to make sure that the baby boy was fine and instead chose to ignore the infant.
When her mother arrived at their home, she found the newborn already dead. Speaking with police, the teen expressed regret for her actions.
According to Palm Beach County court records obtained by Law & Crime, the now 23-year-old DeSouza pleaded guilty to one count each of aggravated manslaughter of a child and neglect of a child causing great bodily harm.
Under the terms of her plea agreement, DeSouza will likely serve between 15 and 45 years in prison. She is scheduled to be sentenced on January 29, 2026.
DeSouza was arrested and charged on December 8, 2023, NBC Miami reported. Her arrest came more than a year after the birth took place on May 2, 2022.
According to an arrest affidavit, deputies from the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office and fire rescue responded to a call for an unresponsive infant at a home in unincorporated Boca Raton. The infant was given CPR and epinephrine but was declared dead shortly after being taken to the hospital.
The 19-year-old had given birth while she was home alone a few hours prior, the affidavit read. Her mother came home and found the infant unresponsive in the bed. She called 911. Her mother told police that DeSouza was scheduled to be induced on May 3.
“Prior to the birth, she had abdominal pains consistent with contractions prior to the birth, however does not know why she did not call 911,” the affidavit read, per NBC Miami. “She said the birth happened quickly and did not know [the baby] was dead until her mom came in.”
DeSouza told investigators, “I gave birth to him and I kind of just sat there. Really confused, I didn’t know what to do. I just sat there.”
A report from People at the time noted that DeSouza allegedly told investigators she was wearing shorts when she went into labor and “she pulled [the shorts] to the side during the birth,” per the affidavit. The baby “came out of the right side of her shorts,” and officers found him with shorts around his torso.
DeSouza allegedly planned to initially terminate the pregnancy but decided against that, instead planning on adoption, her mother told investigators, per People. The mother also told police her daughter had bipolar schizophrenia with PTSD and had been on various medications during pregnancy.
She added that her daughter had been stressed trying to find an adoptive family for her baby and may have had a “psychotic break.”
“I just didn’t do anything and I’m so mad,” DeSouza said. “It was like my body stopped working.”
On April 28, 2023, a report from the medical examiner listed the baby’s cause of death as asphyxia, NBC Miami reported. The manner of death was reported as homicide.
When asked what she would have done differently, DeSouza said, “I would have called for help.”
