Coroner: Abandoned baby born alive

ZANESVILLE – A newborn girl found dead last week on Muskingum University's campus was born alive, the Muskingum County Coroner's Office has ruled.

The baby died from asphyxiation, according to a preliminary ruling from the coroner released Monday.

The newborn was found just after 9 p.m. Wednesday at 125 Lakeside Drive. The sheriff's office, New Concord police, campus police and Emergency Medical Services all responded to the university-owned residence, and some stayed on scene well into the early morning hours of Thursday.

Authorities interviewed the mother last week, though her name has not been released as no charges have been filed, Muskingum County Sheriff's Office Capt. Jeff Lecocq previously told the Times Recorder.

It's the second time an abandoned baby has died of asphyxiation on the college campus.

In February 2002, a student was arrested and indicted for involuntary manslaughter, child endangering and abuse of a corpse after disposing of a newborn boy in a dumpster still alive. The baby later died.

Jennifer Bryant, then 22, a student at what was then called Muskingum College, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in June 2003 to three years in prison. She was released after seven months.

elagatta@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com

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Twitter: @EricLagatta