Manslaughter charge after newborn left in trash

The Marion County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday arrested a woman in the death of her newborn.

Jodi Leann Alexander, 26, is accused of leaving the baby, Chance Alexander-Palmer, in the trash can of a hotel room back in March.  

Deputies were dispatched to the Vacation Host Inn located at 3330 South Pine Avenue on March 8, in reference to Alexander's friend finding a deceased baby the trash bin of Alexander's hotel room.  Detectives said Alexander had given birth to baby, placed her face down in the trash can and covered the baby's body in towels, in an attempt to conceal her death.

The Medical Examiner found that baby Chance was born alive and that she died as a result of the tearing of the umbilical cord, causing her to bleed to death. The manner of death was ruled to be a homicide.

Alexander was already in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections and was officially transferred back to the Marion County Jail on Tuesday.  She is charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child and is being held without bond.