The legal case against former University of Tampa student Brianna Moore is set to head to trial later this month, after new court documents revealed disturbing details about her alleged state of mind in the months leading up to the death of her newborn in a campus dorm bathroom.
Moore, 19, was arrested in October 2024 in Missouri and extradited to Florida, where she now faces multiple felony charges, including aggravated manslaughter of a child, child neglect with great bodily harm, and failure to report a death, according to the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office.
The investigation began in April 2024, when Moore’s roommates reported hearing the sound of a baby crying from their shared bathroom.
Authorities say they later discovered a deceased newborn hidden inside a bloody towel—concealed in a trash bag. Moore allegedly admitted to giving birth in the bathroom, holding the child tightly until the baby stopped crying, and wrapping her in a towel before disposing of her.
Text Messages and “Plan C”
Court documents recently obtained by the Lawton Constitution reveal a disturbing text message exchange from September 2023 that prosecutors say sheds light on Moore’s intentions.
In the exchange with a Mississippi man, Moore allegedly said, “Hey man sometimes you need a plan C,” referring to pregnancy options. The man responded: “Plan A was condoms. Plan B was the pill. Plan C was to kill (the) kid.” Moore allegedly replied: “Plan C is my favorite.”
The man’s relationship to Moore or to the unborn child has not been confirmed. However, Moore’s attorney, Jonah Dickstein, argued that the conversation was taken out of context and was not meant to be interpreted literally. He also claimed the man was not the baby’s father and that the discussion was a general debate about abortion and reproductive laws.
Mental Health and Denial of Pregnancy
Dr. Nicole Graham, a forensic neuropsychologist who examined Moore, testified that the teen exhibited signs of emotional immaturity and had a history of self-harm. Graham concluded that Moore likely experienced a “cryptic pregnancy” — a condition in which an individual is unaware of their pregnancy or is in extreme denial about it.
According to Dickstein, Moore allegedly did not realize she was pregnant until the day she gave birth. This assessment could prove central to the defense strategy, especially given the emotional and psychological factors at play.
Legal Implications
The case raises broader legal and ethical questions about reproductive health, mental illness, and the criminal justice system’s approach to neonaticide — the act of killing a newborn within the first 24 hours of life.
Moore’s charges also include unlawful storage and preservation of human remains, a felony in Florida, as well as failure to report a death to law enforcement or the medical examiner.
If convicted on the top charge of aggravated manslaughter of a child, Moore could face up to 30 years in prison under Florida law.
Trial Ahead
With the trial scheduled to begin later this month, prosecutors are expected to focus on the text messages, Moore’s statements to police, and forensic evidence collected from the scene. The defense is likely to argue diminished capacity, cryptic pregnancy, and the influence of mental illness.
Legal analysts say the case is likely to test the boundaries of intent, premeditation, and maternal mental health defenses in the state of Florida.
