A Palm Beach County mother is facing charges of manslaughter and child neglect after her newborn died following a home birth last year. Bianca R. DeSouza, 21, was arrested on allegations of aggravated manslaughter of a child and neglect with great bodily harm, as per jail records cited by NBC Miami.
The incident took place on May 2, 2022, in the 19000 block of Dinner Key Drive in Boca Raton. According to her arrest report, Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office deputies and fire rescue responded to a call concerning an unresponsive infant at DeSouza's residence just before 5:00 p.m. The child was administered CPR and rushed to West Boca Medical Center, where he was declared dead at 5:46 p.m. DeSouza, reportedly 19 at the time of delivery, had been scheduled to be induced into labor the day after the baby was born, her mother revealed in a statement obtained by the Boca Post.
DeSouza's mother found the baby unresponsive in DeSouza’s bed and called 911. Bianca had reportedly said this when her mother inquired about her presence in the bed. "I gave birth to him and I kind of just sat there. I was really confused; I didn’t know what to do. I just sat there," she added when asked who it belonged to. Earlier reports indicate that DeSouza had been considering adoption for the baby, citing uncertainty about her capability to care for the child due to mental health challenges, which included a diagnosis of bipolar schizophrenia with PTSD.
Investigations further revealed that DeSouza had admitted to using a variety of illicit drugs and unprescribed medications during her pregnancy. In her interview with detectives, DeSouza lamented her actions, saying, "I just didn’t do anything and I’m so mad. It was like my body stopped working," according to information from the arrest affidavit shared by NBC Miami.
On April 28, 2023, the medical examiner determined that asphyxia was the cause of death, and the manner of death was ruled homicide. DeSouza was released on a $25,000 bond a day after her booking into the Palm Beach County Jail, as per the Boca Post. Details about her legal representation were not immediately available.
