Mother admits to drowning baby

BAY MINETTE, Ala. (WALA) - In 2005 a Baldwin County mother was accused of drowning her baby, but she said she didn't do it. Monday, in a Bay Minette courtroom, Marsha Colby admitted to killing her child. Colby got 15 years for drowning her newborn baby.

She allowed her newborn baby boy to drown in a bathtub and then buried him in the backyard. That's what Marsha Colby admitted in court. Over the weekend, Colby's attorney and county prosecutors agreed to a deal.

"She admitted essentially that she recklessly caused the death of her child. In other words, she smoked cocaine and she got into a tub of water, the child was born into the water and she did nothing to assist the child," said Baldwin County District Attorney Judy Newcomb.

Prosecutors say Colby killed the newborn, because she could not afford to raise him.

The crime happened in Orange Beach. At the time of the baby's death, police told us his body was found wrapped in a blanket, and stuffed into a trash bag.

Colby was facing a capital murder charge. But she pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

"We certainly think it's in Ms. Colby's best interest and we think it accurately reflects what actually occurred that evening and most importantly, it allows Ms. Colby to be home very shortly," said defense Attorney John Beck.

Dressed in black and white stripes, Colby had no comment on her way back to jail. Her next stop is state prison. Colby will serve 15 years. Her attorney says she will get credit for the time already served in the Baldwin County Jail.

This is the second time Colby has been tried. In her first case, she was convicted. But the Alabama Supreme Court overturned that ruling citing procedural grounds.