|
Mother of 'prom baby' to be arraigned
October 25, 1997
Web posted at: 5:15 p.m. EDT (2115 GMT)NEW YORK (CNN) -- Melissa Drexler, the 19-year-old New Jersey student accused of killing her newborn baby during her high school prom, will be arraigned Monday.
A grand jury indicted her on one count of murder last month for allegedly killing the boy in June after delivering him in a bathroom in Lacey Township, New Jersey.
At the arraignment, Drexler will have the opportunity to enter a new plea. In June, during her first appearance in court, her lawyer entered a plea of not guilty.
Prosecutors contend the baby was alive at birth but died from asphyxiation, possibly from the plastic bag in which maintenance workers found him. One of Drexler's friends told NBC's "Dateline" that the girl believed the baby was stillborn.
If the case goes to trial and Drexler is found guilty, she could face 30 years to life in prison.
Related stories:
- Friend: Teen who gave birth at prom thought baby was dead - June 30, 1997
- Nearly 5 babies killed weekly, FBI data show - June 27, 1997
- Teen charged with murder in prom baby death - June 24, 1997
- Teens indicted for first-degree murder in death of infant - December 9, 1997
Related site:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
- Death at the prom - A chronology of the events from the Asbury Park Press
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
|
Sound off on our message boards You said it... |
|
© 1997 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.