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Columbia Mom Suffocated Newborn Boy In Zipped Plastic Bag After Home Birth, Police Say

COLUMBIA, Md. (WJZ) — Howard County police have arrested a Columbia woman in the death of her newborn child in November 2018.

Moira Akers, 38, of Carved Stone in Columbia, has been charged with one count of first-degree murder.

Police were called to Howard County General Hospital on November 1 after Akers was taken from her home by paramedics.

Police learned that Akers had recently given birth inside her home. Investigators responded to the home and found a male newborn in a zipped plastic bag under blankets in a closet. The baby was dead.

"We originally received a call from the hospital indicating a woman had been transported by paramedics," Sherry Llewellyn, of Howard County Police, said. "Something about the incident just seemed suspicious. We quickly determined the woman had recently given birth in her home and our investigators responded there."

A recent autopsy report classified the death as a homicide, saying the infant was full-term and alive at birth.

"That report was to make a determination about whether this was a stillborn incident or live birth," Llewellyn said. "We've just now received that report indicating that in fact, the baby was alive when he was born."

The official cause of death was ruled as asphyxiation and exposure.

Akers' internet search history revealed many searches on how to terminate a pregnancy.

Neighbors spoke to WJZ after hearing the news for the first time. They didn't know

"I'm very shocked," Jean Alle, a neighbor, said. "She was a very friendly person. We would always say hi to each other."

Akers was arrested at her home Wednesday night and is being held without bond at the Howard County Detention Center.

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