Case Summary
Bianca R. Desouza, a 23-year-old Florida woman (19 at the time), pleaded guilty on Thursday to aggravated manslaughter of a child and neglect causing great bodily harm. The charges stem from her home birth on May 2, 2022, in West Boca Raton, where her newborn son died shortly after. She faces 15 to 45 years in prison under her plea deal, per Palm Beach County court records.
Key Events
- Birth and Immediate Aftermath: Desouza gave birth alone in her bed while wearing boxer shorts. The baby was born through a leg hole, pressing his face against her thigh, which the medical examiner later identified as causing chest compression and asphyxia (homicide).
- Her Actions: She held the crying infant briefly, then left him on the bed, showered, and lay in her mother’s bed without seeking help. She later said she “didn’t know what to do,” felt her “body stopped working,” and thought he was sleeping after he stopped crying.
- Discovery: Her mother found the unresponsive baby around 4:56 p.m. and called 911. The infant was pronounced dead at West Boca Medical Center.
Investigation Details
- Medical and Mental Health Context: Desouza was scheduled for induced labor the next day and planned adoption. She had stopped Lexapro two weeks prior, had a history of self-harm, severe depression, psychosis, and bipolar disorder (per her mother). Stress over adoption placement contributed.
- Statements: After psychiatric evaluation and release, she told detectives she wished she’d called for help and denied harming the baby intentionally. Her mother suspected a “psychotic break.”
- Arrest: Charged in December 2023, over a year later, by Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
Legal Outcome
The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide due to her failure to remove clothing, reposition the baby, or seek care. Her plea avoids trial but locks in a lengthy sentence—likely decades, as noted. Sentencing details weren’t specified in the report, but Florida statutes for these felonies support the 15-45 year range.
This case highlights intersections of mental health, neonatal risks in unassisted births, and criminal negligence laws. Florida’s child manslaughter statutes emphasize a parent’s duty to act, even amid mental illness, unless proven legally insane (not pursued here). For similar cases, see resources like the Florida Statutes § 782.07 or CDC data on neonatal asphyxia. What’s your take on the mental health aspects or related laws?
