Mother charged in death of her newborn after baby found dead in sealed plastic bag, police say

COLUMBIA, Md. (FOX 5 DC) - A Howard County woman has been arrested and charged in the death of her newborn son after investigators say they found her baby dead in a sealed plastic bag inside her home.

Police say 38-year-old Moira Akers has been charged with one count of first-degree murder and is being held without bond after her arrest Wednesday night.

The investigation began on November 1 of 2018 when officers were called to Howard County General Hospital after Akers was transported there by paramedics from her home on Carved Stone in Columbia.

Authorities say Akers told them she had just given birth to a stillborn baby at her home and that they could find the newborn inside a zipped plastic bag under blankets inside of her bedroom closet. Officers went to her home and found the baby who was pronounced dead at the scene.

A recently completed autopsy determined that the baby's death was a homicide, court documents say. It is believed the newborn was a healthy, full-term baby and was alive at birth. Investigators say the cause of death was ruled as asphyxiation and exposure.

Investigators say Akers' internet search history revealed numerous searches on how to terminate a pregnancy. She is married and has two other children ages two and five years old.

The investigation is still continuing at this time.