Mom Smoked Crack Moments Before Giving Birth: Cops

CLEARWATER, FL — A baby boy whose life got off to a rocky start on Monday is in stable condition at a local hospital. His mother, however, now faces child neglect charges after Clearwater Police say she smoked crack cocaine moments before giving birth to the child on the porch of a Cleveland Street. She is then accused of trying to hide the newborn from her friend and authorities.

According to the police department, officers were called to a home in the 1400 block of Cleveland Street around 10:21 p.m. on Monday. Once there, they learned that Katrina Kegelman had given birth to the boy on the back patio of the home. Kegelman, who used “crack cocaine and other unknown substances while pregnant” then hid the baby in the backyard, an arrest report said.

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A friend, however, noticed blood on Kegelman’s pants, the report said. The friend asked where the baby was and Kegelman is accused of begging her not to call 911.

That request was not granted.

When first responders arrived on the scene, they asked Kegelman where the baby could be found. After several requests, she pointed towards the backyard, the report said.

Once at a local hospital, police say Kegelman told a detective “she was aware that she had given birth and lied about the baby because she was afraid to get criminally charged with the baby’s death for having smoked crack moments before giving birth.”

The baby did not die though. He remained in the care of a local hospital on Thursday, police department spokesman Rob Shaw said.

Kegelman, who has no known address, was booked into the Pinellas County Jail Wednesday on a child neglect charge. She was later released in lieu of $5,000 bond.

Further information is not being released at this time.

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Photo courtesy of the Pinellas County Jail