Lasasha Gouldbourne: NY woman charged with manslaughter after stuffing premature newborn in laundry bag

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BRONX, NEW YORK CITY: Authorities in the Bronx filed charges against a mother after her newborn was found dead inside a bag in the home, in addition to numerous other offenses.

Almost five months after the incident, Lasasha Gouldbourne, 31, was charged by police on Tuesday, January 30, with criminally negligent homicide, assault, and acting in a way that would harm a child.

Lasasha Gouldbourne gave birth to a girl in bathroom

According to police, Gouldbourne gave birth to a girl on September 1, 2023, inside her mother's Bronx Park East bathroom.

Authorities claim that Gouldbourne left a bag of clothes in the bathroom. Upon entering the bathroom, her mother—who knew she was pregnant—discovered a baby inside the bag.

As reported by Norwood News, “Upon arrival, officers observed a newborn child unconscious and unresponsive inside of the location,” a police spokesperson said. “EMS responded  and transported the aided child to Montefiore Medical Center, where she was later pronounced deceased.”

After being taken to the hospital by first responders, the baby was pronounced dead, according to the authorities.

Lasasha Gouldbourne also gave birth to twin boy

Gouldbourne was detained by police, and after an emergency cesarean section, she also gave birth to a twin boy at Bronx-North Central Hospital, by the authorities, WPIX11 reported.

Before filing charges against Gouldbourne, investigators waited for the medical examiner's officer to disclose the cause of death, according to officials.

The baby girl's identity had been withheld until the right family was notified. Lasasha Gouldbourne, 31, of Bronx Park East, was taken into custody on Tuesday, January 30, at 10 a.m., according to police on Wednesday, January 31.

A person detained and charged with a crime is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, in Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) if you have any information about this incident.

The public can also provide tips by following @NYPDTips on Twitter or by visiting the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/.