Clearwater Police arrested a 24-year-old woman Monday on child neglect charges after she confessed to smoking crack cocaine shortly before giving birth to a baby, and then hiding the baby in the backyard of a friend's house.

Katrina Kegelman, 24, used crack cocaine, other substances while pregnant

Kegelman lied about baby, fearing she'd be charged with baby's death

Baby, born three months premature, still alive

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Investigators said Fire Rescue was called to the home after a friend of Katrina Kegelman, 24, noticed she had blood on her pants and asked her about the baby she'd given birth to earlier. At that point, Kegelman begged the friend not to call 911.



When authorities arrived, Kegelman reportedly was uncooperative in terms of telling them where the baby was.



"It took fire fighters a while to even locate the baby, because she wasn’t being straightforward with them or with anyone who was trying to help that baby," said Rob Shaw with Clearwater Police. "Her only concern was herself."



Kegelman eventually told police the baby was in the backyard. Investigators said they found the baby boy alive, born three months early, and is now fighting for his life.



"Thankfully it doesn’t happen every day, you know," said Shaw. "No child deserves to come into this world under those circumstances."



Later, at the hospital, Kegelman told detectives that she lied about the baby because she feared she'd be charged for the baby's death for having smoked crack right before giving birth.

Emergency officials reported that Kegelman's going into labor prematurely and delivering the baby was triggered by her smoking crack moments before.



Kegelman faces one count of child neglect.

