Woman found guilty in 2018 death of infant

A Columbia woman faces life in prison after she was found guilty Wednesday by a Howard County Circuit Court jury of second-degree murder and first-degree child abuse in the death of her infant child in November 2018.

Moira Akers, 41, of Columbia is scheduled to be sentenced July 29.

According to a news release from the Office of the State’s Attorney for Howard County, on Nov.1,2018,HowardCountyPolicewerecalled to Howard County General Hospital after Akers was transported there from her residencebyparamedics.Akersdidnotdisclosethe birth of her newborn to Howard County Fire & EMS personnel who responded to treat her.

Through investigation, it was determined that Akers had recently given birth inside her home. Investigators responded to the house to conductawelfarecheckandlocatedadeceased newborninazippedplasticbagunderablanket in a closet with the door shut, according to the news release. Akers told police that the baby had been stillborn. On Nov. 2, 2018, an autopsy was done by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and a report was issued in March 2019 classifying the death as a homicide. The report stated the infant was a healthy, full-term baby and alive at birth. The cause of death was declared as asphyxiation and exposure.

AkerswasarrestedinApril2019andcharged with first-degree murder. When looking at Akers’ internet search history, police said they discovered multiple searches on how to terminate a pregnancy. Akers’ attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.