Palm Coast Woman Kills Baby Shortly After Giving Birth
BUNNELL, Fla. — The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is arresting a Palm Coast woman this afternoon following an investigation into the death of a newborn infant.
Around 4 a.m. on Friday, March 6, the Flagler County Emergency Communications Center received a call requesting a welfare check on an adult female, identified as Anne Mae Demegillo, 20, of Palm Coast. The caller informed dispatchers that Demegillo had sent messages to the caller stating that she had secretly been pregnant and had unexpectedly given birth at home. The message indicated that Demegillo’s baby was born alive and crying, but Demegillo had done something to the infant.
When deputies arrived on scene, they met with Demegillo, who told deputies that she was not sure she was pregnant but began experiencing severe abdominal pain around 3:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 5, and later delivered the child in her bathroom toilet.
Demegillo claimed she thought the infant was deceased, so she hid the infant in a duffle bag in her closet and went about her normal daily routine. When Demegillo returned home from a theater performance in New Smyrna Beach, she decided to bury the deceased infant in a shallow grave in her backyard. At no point did Demegillo contact emergency services for assistance.
Following the investigation by FCSO’s Major Case Unit and Crime Scene Investigation, detectives determined that Demegillo knowingly and purposefully allowed the newborn to drown in the toilet.
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy for our community, for the family involved, and an emotionally difficult case for our team,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “I want to remind our community, especially our expectant mothers: Florida law allows you to bring a child at birth to a local fire station, hospital or law enforcement agency and surrender the child. That is a much better solution than what we are investigating today—for everyone involved, but most importantly the infant who was prevented from the life they deserve. May God bless this infant and hold and comfort the baby in his loving hands with the love the baby never received on earth.”
Under Florida’s Safe Haven Law, parents who cannot care for a newborn may safely surrender the child at any fire station, hospital or police station. Palm Coast’s Safe Haven Baby Box allows for complete anonymity and is located at Fire Station 25 which was activated on September 30, 2025. Parents can quietly and safely place their newborn inside the secure, climate-controlled box without having to interact with anyone face-to-face.
Demegillo will be charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child and later transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility for processing.
The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office at 386-313-4911.
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