The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that a 20-year-old Palm Coast woman is being charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child following the death of a newborn infant. The arrest came after a welfare check early Friday morning led investigators to uncover the circumstances surrounding the infant’s death.
How the Investigation Began
At approximately 4 a.m. on Friday, March 6, the Flagler County Emergency Communications Center received a call requesting a welfare check on Anne Mae Demegillo, 20, of Palm Coast. The caller told dispatchers that Demegillo had sent messages indicating she had been secretly pregnant and had unexpectedly given birth at home. The messages stated that the baby was born alive and crying, and that Demegillo had done something to the infant.
What Demegillo Told Deputies
When deputies arrived at the scene, Demegillo told them she was unsure she was pregnant but began experiencing severe abdominal pain around 3:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 5, and later delivered the infant in her bathroom toilet. She told deputies she believed the infant was deceased and hid the baby in a duffle bag in her closet. She then went about her normal daily routine, including attending a theater performance in New Smyrna Beach. When she returned home, she buried the infant in a shallow grave in her backyard. At no point did Demegillo contact emergency services or seek any help.
What Investigators Found
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Major Case Unit and Crime Scene Investigation team conducted the investigation. Detectives determined that Demegillo knowingly and purposefully allowed the newborn to drown in the toilet. Demegillo is being charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child and will be transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility for processing. The investigation remains active and ongoing.
Sheriff’s Statement and Safe Haven Reminder
Sheriff Rick Staly released a statement addressing the tragedy and reminding the community of legal options available to parents who cannot care for a newborn. “This is a heartbreaking tragedy for our community, for the family involved, and an emotionally difficult case for our team,” Staly said. “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.”
Florida’s Safe Haven Law and the Palm Coast Baby Box
Under Florida’s Safe Haven Law, any parent who cannot care for a newborn may legally and safely surrender the child at any fire station, hospital, or police station without fear of prosecution. Palm Coast also has a Safe Haven Baby Box located at Fire Station 25, which was activated on September 30, 2025. The box is secure and climate-controlled, and allows a parent to anonymously surrender a newborn without having to interact with anyone face-to-face.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office at 386-313-4911. More information about Florida’s Safe Haven Law can be found at www.myflfamilies.com/SafeHaven. Additional information about the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is available at www.flaglersheriff.com.
This article is based on an official press release issued by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office on March 6, 2026. The charge listed is an accusation. Demegillo is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
