Woman gets 20 years for leaving baby in trash can

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An Indianapolis woman whose co-workers found her baby gasping for air in a garbage can after she gave birth in a warehouse restroom has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Marion Superior Judge Lisa Borges suspended 10 years of the sentence after 23-year-old Briana Holland pleaded guilty Wednesday to attempted murder. Prosecutors dropped five other charges.

Court documents say Holland delivered the boy last August. Co-workers found him with his head covered in a bag, trash in his mouth and toilet paper around his neck.

The baby was found in a bathroom trash can at Holland’s work place, United Technology Carrier Corporation.

A woman in the bathroom heard the baby and called a maintenance worker. According to court documents, the maintenance worker told detectives the baby had toilet paper wrapped tightly around its neck about 15 times. There was also a tampon applicator and tissue in the baby’s mouth.

Documents say Holland told a detective she couldn’t afford to care for her son.

Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry says the quick actions of the co-workers and first responders prevented a tragedy.

“The 30 year sentence with 20 years served in prison reflects the significance of the choice that Ms. Holland made to take a healthy newborn child and leave him in a trash can to die,” Curry said. “A tragic infant death was avoided by the quick actions of coworkers and first responders in saving this child’s life. We also commend the IMPD Child Abuse unit for their work in protecting the child and resolving this case.”