Crime

Brittany Williams, Mom Who Put Newborn in Trash, Convicted of Murder

A Phoenix mom who put her newborn baby in a trash can last year -- killing the baby -- has been found guilty of second-degree murder, court officials tell New Times.

In January 2010, Brittany Williams delivered a baby in her family's Phoenix home. According to authorities, none of her family members knew she was pregnant.

Rather than take the baby to a hospital, Williams put the newborn in the trash.

Williams later told family members she'd delivered a child and that they could find it in a trash can in front of a vacant house down the street from their home.

Family members rushed to revive the baby but were unsuccessful.

Williams initially was charged with first-degree murder and child abuse for the baby's death, but the murder charge was later reduced to second-degree murder.

Williams was found guilty in May of child abuse, but jurors were hung on the murder charge and a retrial was ordered.

The issue was whether the baby was alive when Williams put it in the trash. At the time of death, police say, the baby was alive and that Williams had "spent some time in her residence with the child before taking it to a vacant house."

Jurors in Williams' second murder trial concluded that the baby was born alive -- and that Williams is a murderer.

Williams' sentencing is scheduled for September 23.

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James King
Contact: James King

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