Area woman accused of murdering her baby

A Bay County woman is charged with the murder of her own baby.
Investigators say the 26 year old mother gave birth to a boy at her home on 15920 Rollohome Road, then killed him and dumped the body in a trash can.
Investigators say 26 year old Stephanie Collins single-handedly delivered a healthy baby boy in the bathroom at her home on Rollohome Road. She then allegedly smothered it to death and dumped the body in a trash can out back.
Collins allegedly told authorities she planned the act during her pregnancy. Collins already has a nine-year-old son and has reportedly had an abortion, but told investigators she didn’t want to go through another procedure like that.
Investigators say Stephanie’s parents also live in the house. Her mother found the boy in the trash can 14 hours later and drove them both to Bay Medical Center. The infant was pronounced dead.
“They were extremely shaken,” says Sheriff’s Office PIO Ruth Sasser about Collins’ parents. “They didn’t know she was pregnant and you can imagine what it would feel like to open the trash can and find your grandchild.”
Investigators believe the baby’s father lives in Georgia. Neighbors say Stephanie was always smiling. They describe the Collins family as friendly people. Even her neighbors didn’t know she was pregnant.
As of Monday at 6 p.m., deputies were still waiting for Collins to be released from the hospital. She was listed as being in stable condition and should be cleared to leave late Monday night or Tuesday. Once released, Collins will be booked into the Bay County Jail and charged with an open count of murder, authorities say.
By law, Collins could have left the baby alive at a safe haven location. Florida passed a Safe Haven law in 2000 allowing mothers to surrender new born babies at hospitals, fire stations and EMS departments statewide. No questions would be asked and no punishment would follow. New legislation, passed in July, extended the drop off deadline from 3-7days.
By law mothers have 30 days to change their minds and children could be adopted out after 90 days. 117 babies have been reportedly saved through the program. One of them was saved in Bay County.