Emile Weaver, a former Muskingum University student who was accused of giving birth in her sorority house’s bathroom and disposing of her baby daughter in a trash bag, was found guilty on Friday.
The jury deliberated for just over an hour before finding Weaver guilty of aggravated murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.
Weaver gave birth at the Delta Gamma Theta sorority house in New Concord, Ohio, on April 22, 2015, according to WLWT. The baby girl, who Weaver named Addison Grace, died of asphyxiation after Weaver left her wrapped in a plastic trash bag outside of the house.
Weaver pleaded guilty by reason of insanity, but the judge ruled her to be mentally competent. Her sentencing has yet to occur, but she faces life in prison for the aggravated murder charge.
During the trial, the prosecution interviewed some of Weaver’s classmates and sorority sisters.
“I saw a baby’s foot and the bottom half of the baby,” testified Madison Bates. Bates also said that another girl saw the whole baby.
Michael Haddox, Muskingum County’s Prosecutor, said that the trial’s jurors “were comfortable with their decision” and that he was pleased with the outcome. He said, “We feel justice has been served for Addison Grace Weaver. [However] it’s still a sad ending to a sad story.”
Weaver appeared “unemotional, cold and unfeeling” during the trial as her lies about the pregnancy and child were uncovered, according to the Times Recorder. Weaver first claimed that she did not know she was pregnant and she thought that the child was already dead when she threw her in the trash.
However, when Weaver was cross-examine by Haddox, Weaver admitted that she knew that she was pregnant, took supplements and drank alcohol to try to induce a miscarriage. She additionally saw the baby moving and breathing shortly after birth.
“She wanted Addison dead. That’s what she wanted. Whether it was during pregnancy or after, it didn’t matter,” Muskingum County Assistant Prosecutor, Ron Welch, said in his closing arguments.
