Mother Of ‘Baby Milton’ Identified

Florida Baby Police say a teenager came home from college and gave birth to a stillborn baby. Her parents did not know about the pregnancy until long after the family dog dug up the remains.

by WKRG Staff

Published: Fri, October 02, 2009 - 4:49 pm CST

MILTON, Florida - The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office has closed its investigation into the death of 'Baby Milton'

Henry and Tonya McGill's pittbull lab mix dug up the body of a newborn baby December 2008 in a wooded area near their home. The McGill's were shocked, telling News 5 at the time, "early in our marriage we lost a child due to a miscarriage. So I mean it's upsetting that someone seemed to have a healthy baby and would do something like that."

Ten months later, deputies have identified that someone as the McGill's daughter. According to the Sheriff's Office, 18-year-old Erica McGill learned she was pregnant in May or June of last year, but never told her parents. She later learned it was a boy and chose a name, Jeremiah Maurice Johnson.

McGill returned home from college December 13, believing she had time before her baby was due. She told investigators that she started experiencing pain around 2:00 a.m. on either December 21 or 28. About four hours later, McGill went outside with the family dog. That's when McGill says she realized she was about to give birth and panicked.

When the baby arrived, he was not breathing. McGill said the child never cried or moved. Not knowing what to do, she sat with her son for about two hours and then buried him.
McGill said she was afraid to disclose her pregnancy to her family.

The Medical Examiner's Office says McGill's statement is consistent with their findings. The baby was stillborn.

McGill could have been charged with a misdemeanor for improper disposal of a human body. But the Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office decided not to file charges due to the "nature of the situation and the hardship that has already been endured by McGill and her family."

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abigail Says:

Mon, Oct 05, 2009 at 9:11 am

I am still trying to figure out how she could be nine months pregnant and her parents not know it. Nonetheless, there should be some kind of punishment for this. Yes, that family has been through an ordeal and they have suffered emotionally. How often has this happened and the mother at least had to go through a trial to be exonerated? I do feel sorry for her having to live with what she did.

cissiebee Says:

Sun, Oct 04, 2009 at 12:32 pm

I was in the delivery room with my daughter a month ago and 4 years ago. Babies are not breathing when they are born and they are purple. They don’t look alive until the doctor starts the breathing process for them. How can they know whether she didn’t know what to do? and she obviously didn’t seek any help.

XcCity Says:

Sat, Oct 03, 2009 at 8:13 pm

ofcourse they’re not going to charge her. their is no difference between this & live birth abortion & that’s legal. heartless people.

lillybell Says:

Sat, Oct 03, 2009 at 6:46 am

I’m trying to figure out how her parents did not realize she was pregnant? Even the smallest of women still show when their pregnant. Especially at the end of term. I’m sure her parents hugged her when she came home for the holidays and no one could tell she was pregnant. Amazing.

freedomtofascismcom Says:

Fri, Oct 02, 2009 at 7:42 pm

This nation and its military industrial complex that Eisenhower warrned us about kills tens of thousands per day with war machines and no one blinks an eye, yet this type of thing in this article somehow touches a nerve. See industialists and bankers and financiers lack the last meaningful control measure in mankind (Empathy) It is what keeps regular people from committing acts of barbarism. Without empathy and compassion we have no countermeasures to evil that men devise and impliment. We all have this capability, one need only look atht e Stanford Prison Expirament , which was to last three weeks and was cancelled in three days due to the detached impersonalization ib the expirament. In addition look at the Ash expirament where it was the group think that made someone give the wrong answer to questions that the control subject knew was incorrect, but rather than contradict others in the group that were purposely giving wrong answers he (the control) gave answers that he knew were incorrect. Sheep mentality, or the hive mindset we all possess. We really do act predictable, and this is easily calculated and measured and planned for, so that it is easier for us to be controlled. Smile your on the Akashic Record!

javaturner Says:

Fri, Oct 02, 2009 at 6:44 pm

Deal with this??? She didn’t have any problems with the dealings of getting that precious baby here…why is it that these young girls can go around having sex but whoa is me when they find out they have brought an unwanted life into existence? I`m sorry but there is no excuse for her behavior and she should be punished just like anyone else who would do such a horrible thing. Bury a baby like old garbage just because you don’t want to hear a lecture from your parents??? How selfish!

freedomtofascismcom Says:

Fri, Oct 02, 2009 at 6:41 pm

In as much as the stillborn child is a tragedy, I will agree with you southfan that whenever a kid feels they cannot come to a parent for advice or consolation in circumstances like these a real tragedy occurs. It should not matter what the situation is kids need support from their parents and unconditional love. Tis a sad and lonely world we live in really.