A 26-year-old woman on Monday expressed indescribable "pain and regret" over the death of her newborn son, whom she stuffed into a plastic bag and put in her desk drawer after giving birth to him at her suburban Detroit workplace, authorities said.
Kimberly Pappas was sentenced to 9 to 20 years in prison. The Wyandotte woman earlier pleaded guilty to second-degree murder under an agreement with prosecutors to drop charges of felony murder and child abuse.
"The pain and regret I have over this really can't be put into words," Pappas said.
Police said the baby was discovered March 31 at Pappas' desk after he was born in the restroom of CEVA logistics in Wayne County's Redford Township where Pappas worked.
An autopsy determined the infant lived for 20 to 30 minutes and died of suffocation. His death was ruled a homicide. He was full-term at the time of birth.
The Detroit News reports that Pappas had previously denied her pregnancy, according to her sister and co-worker, Cassandra Pappas. She never purchased baby items and didn't discuss options such as abortion or adoption.
Pappas apologized Monday to her family for the horrific crime.
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“We love you and forgive you,” her father, James Pappas, said, before telling his daughter they had "unconditional love" for her and would be there when she was released.
"Kimberly, we love you very much," he said, according to NBC affiliate WDIV. "We will support you with as many visits as we can."
