In 1997 Melissa Drexler, 18, gave birth to and strangled her Baby at the prom
On this day in 1997, “The Prom Mom,” Melissa Drexler gives birth and murders her baby at the prom. During her high school prom, Drexler gave birth to a baby boy which she dumped in the bathroom’s trash can. Drexler was able to cut off the umbilical cord on the edge of a metal sanitary napkin box in the bathroom. Somehow, Drexler was able to hide her pregnancy.
She then returned to the dance floor. Eventually, Drexler was charged with murder, but she plead guilty to aggravated manslaughter. Drexler was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but she was released on parole after 37 months.
Melissa Drexler (born 1979, a.k.a. "The Prom Mom"), delivered a baby in a restroom stall at her high school prom, and threw the body in the trash before returning to the dance.
She pled guilty to aggravated manslaughter, and was sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment. After serving nearly 37 months, she was released on parole. She was given her dubious nickname by the American media.
Drexler attended Lacey Township High School, New Jersey. Over the course of nearly nine months she kept her pregnancy secret from the baby's father, her parents, and her new boyfriend, John T. Lewis, Jr. Five foot seven inches tall, and weighing 130 pounds, she apparently showed no signs of her condition.
On June 6, 1997, the day of her senior prom, the eighteen-year-old's waters broke in the morning, and she later suffered cramps on her way to the banquet hall. On arriving, she retired to the restroom, where the baby was born in about 15–30 minutes.
According to her allocution, Drexler then retrieved the baby from the toilet bowl, cut the umbilical cord on the bathroom fixtures, wrapped the baby in several garbage sacks, and deposited the bundle in a trash can. She then went to the dance floor and, according to witnesses, "appeared to be just as she always was" and "exhibited indications of somebody enjoying the prom."
Some reports at the time stated that she requested the song "The Unforgiven" by Metallica, but later reports denied this. However, others had alleged that she had eaten a salad and danced afterwards.
The baby was discovered by a janitor, responding to reports of blood in the restroom, who became suspicious of the weight of the trash bag. Emergency workers attempted to resucitate the baby for two hours. Drexler later named the baby Christopher.
Originally charged with murder, Drexler pled guilty to aggravated manslaughter on October 29, 1998, and Judge John A. Ricciardi sentenced her to 15 years in prison, the maximum penalty. On November 26, 2001, she was released on parole after serving only little over three years.
Melissa Drexler (born 1978) is an American who delivered a baby in a restroom stall at her high school prom and put the body in the trash, before returning to the dance. Drexler pled guilty to aggravated manslaughter, and was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment. After serving nearly 37 months, she was released on parole.
Biography
Drexler attended Lacey Township High School in Forked River, New Jersey. Over the course of nearly nine months, she kept her pregnancy secret from the baby's father, her parents and classmates. Five feet seven inches tall, and weighing 60 kg (130 pounds), she apparently showed no signs of her pregnancy.
On June 6, 1997, Drexler gave birth in a toilet stall at her senior prom. She then retrieved the baby from the toilet bowl, cut the umbilical cord on the serrated edge of a sanitary napkin dispenser, wrapped the baby in several garbage sacks, and deposited the bundle in a trash can. She then returned to the dance floor.
The baby was discovered by a janitor who responded to reports of blood in the restroom and who became suspicious of the weight of the trash bag. Emergency workers attempted to resuscitate the baby for two hours. Originally charged with murder, Drexler pled guilty to aggravated manslaughter on August 20, 1998, and Judge John A. Ricciardi sentenced her to 15 years in prison, the maximum penalty. On November 26, 2001, she was released on parole after serving a little over three years. Drexler was nicknamed the "The Prom Mom" by the American media.
Melissa Drexler, 18, concealed her pregnancy from everyone.
After arriving with friends at the Aberdeen Township Banquet Hall in New Jersey, for the Lacey Township High School prom, Drexler went to the women's restroom and gave birth to a son within about 20 - 30 minutes, with her friends right outside the stall.
She told her friend, "Go tell the boys I'll be right out."
Born alive, the infant was suffocated. Drexler cut the umbilical cord on the edge of a metal sanitary napkin box in the stall.
Drexler went to the dance floor.
Maintenance workers were called in to clean up the blood found a bag in the garbage with a dead baby inside. Blood tests revealed no trace of drugs or alcohol.
Prosecutors in Monmouth County initially charged Drexler with murder, but she pled guilty to aggravated manslaughter on October 29, 1998.
Statement read in court by Melissa Drexler as she pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter:
"I knew I was pregnant.
I concealed the pregnancy from everyone.
On the morning of the prom my water broke.
While I was in the car on the way to the prom, I began to have cramps. I went to the prom and I went into the bathroom and delivered the baby.
The baby was born alive. I knowingly took the baby out the toilet and wrapped a series of garbage bags around the baby. I then placed the baby in another garbage bag, knotted it closed and threw it in the trash can.
I was aware of what I was doing at the time when I placed the baby in the bag. And I was further aware that what I did would most certainly result in the death of the baby."
Crying and apologetic, Melissa Drexler was sentenced to 15 years in prison for killing her newborn son moments after delivering the baby in the bathroom at her senior prom.
Melissa admits she killed her newborn son and plead guilty to aggravated manslaughter in the death of the boy she delivered during her high school senior prom.
11/2001 at age 23 to go home and live with her parents. She was noted to be a model prisoner. Melissa Drexler took fashion courses while in prison and hopes to work in the industry, said her lawyer, Steven Secare.
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