PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — A mother accused of abandoning her newborn baby girl in a dumpster in suburban Boca Raton earlier this year claims she didn't know the baby was alive until her interview with police, according to newly released court records.
35-year-old Rafaelle Alessandra Carbalho Sousa faces charges of attempted felony murder and child abuseafter investigators found the newborn, named Sarah, alive in a dumpster near Sousa's apartment back in May.
Detectives claim Sousa delivered the child, then wrapped her in a plastic bag before putting her in the dumpster.
Sousa has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Her attorneys have filed a motion to suppress her statements made to PBSO detectives, including her confession.
WPTV NewsChannel 5 obtained a transcript of her interview with law enforcement from the State Attorney's Office through a public records request.
Although some portions of the transcript are heavily redacted, the interview provides a first-hand account of what Sousa told law enforcement after the newborn was found alive.
Sousa told investigators that she went to the bathroom around 5 a.m. on May 8, and that's when she "felt a big pain," according to a transcript of her interview with Palm Beach County detectives. Sousa claimed she didn't know the baby was alive when she gave birth.
"Oh, my God," reacted Sousa when detectives told her the baby was alive. "I have a girl," she continued, adding, "I could have taken care of her."
READ THE TRANSCRIPT:
Sousa recalled a conversation just two weeks earlier, where she told another woman, "when I have a girl, I would name her Leah."
Sousa said she didn't know about her previous pregnancies until months later. She told investigators she found out she was pregnant with her daughter at seven months after visiting a hospital in Brazil.
Sousa told investigators that with her son, "I found out that [REDACTED] - that I was pregnant with [REDACTED] - almost when it was time to have him," according to the interview transcript.
The transcript also shows Sousa told the newborn's father that she didn't know she was pregnant.
"To me it was fine, and I never felt anything, never felt sick, never threw up," she told him, later adding, "I don't have these things. It's not my fault. I don't feel these things. I don't feel them, I don't feel them."
Sousa also expressed her concern to the baby's father.
"Baby, I was afraid. I was afraid," she told the father.
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Sousa's attorneys are asking a judge to toss her confession from evidence, arguing that Sousa was not read her Miranda rights properly before speaking with detectives.
Sousa is from Brazil and only speaks and writes in Portuguese. The motion alleges detectives failed to give Sousa a core warning enshrined in Miranda, and she was never advised that any statement she made would be used against her in court. A hearing is set for the matter on Dec. 19.
READ THE MOTION TO SUPPRESS:
WPTV NewsChannel 5 will have a crew at Sousa's court hearing and will bring updates on-air and online as they become available.
