Tragic Discovery: Baby Found Dead on University of Tampa Campus, Mother Located

A tragic discovery on the University of Tampa campus has sparked a death investigation by police after a baby was found abandoned and deceased near McKay Hall on Sunday evening. The Tampa Police Department responded to the scene around 7 p.m. where they found the infant wrapped in a towel and placed in a garbage bin.

Chief Bercaw expressed the heartbreaking nature of the incident, stating, “The loss of a child is always a tragedy.” The body of the baby was taken to the Medical Examiner’s office for an autopsy to determine the cause of death, while the mother was located and taken to a nearby hospital.

The University of Tampa is working closely with the police department in the investigation and is offering counseling and resources to the campus community. It was also noted that Florida has a Safe Haven Law in place, allowing parents to surrender an unharmed newborn infant anonymously to designated locations without facing charges.

For expectant mothers in need of support, various resources are available including the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, the Florida Department of Health, Maternal & Child Health Section, and the National Safe Haven Alliance Hotline.

As this is a developing story, updates will be provided as they become available. In a related story, a Florida man who was fined $30,000 for overgrown grass in Dunedin has settled with the city after a yearslong legal battle that gained national attention. Stay tuned for more details on this resolution.