Pregnancy is often heralded as a time of joy and anticipation, a milestone celebrated by families and communities alike. Yet, for some, the experience can be fraught with fear, secrecy, and desperation. These complexities of teenage pregnancy were tragically underscored in Lakeland, Florida, in 2012, when a 14-year-old girl took unimaginable steps to conceal her pregnancy.
Cassidy Goodson lived in Greenbrier Village with her family. She wasn’t just a typical teenager—she was an accomplished softball player, active on several youth teams, and known for her dedication and skill. Her mother, Teresa, described her as a “great child” who not only excelled in sports but also took on household responsibilities like preparing family dinners and attending church every Sunday.
But beneath the surface, Cassidy carried a heavy secret. Unknown to everybody, she had been pregnant for months, concealing the pregnancy with baggy clothing and denying any suspicions. Even when her mother’s two sisters voiced their concerns, suggesting Cassidy might be pregnant, Teresa was reluctant to believe them. She questioned her daughter directly on two occasions, but Cassidy dismissed the concerns and even provided negative results from home pregnancy tests—tests she had been allowed to take privately.
Despite her petite frame, standing at just 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 100 pounds, Cassidy successfully hid her growing belly, all the while bearing the immense weight of her situation alone.
The shocking truth came to light on September 22, 2012. Teresa was tidying her daughter’s bedroom and gathering laundry when she was overwhelmed by an overpowering stench. Following the source of the smell, she discovered a shoebox tucked away, its contents hidden but the odour undeniable. Opening the box, she recoiled in horror. Inside lay the body of a full-term baby boy, along with blood-stained towels and clothing.
Cassidy was taken into custody and questioned by detectives. In chilling detail, she recounted the events of five days prior. On September 17, she began feeling unwell, with the discomfort intensifying over the next two days. On the morning of September 19, she went into labour. From 7AM to 10AM, while her mother was at home, Cassidy laboured alone in the bathroom. To muffle any sounds, she bit down on a towel and turned on the water. The pain was excruciating, and at one point, she used a pair of scissors in a desperate attempt to deliver the baby.1
Ultimately, Cassidy gave birth to a healthy baby boy, weighing 9.5 pounds and measuring 20.4 inches long. But his life was heartbreakingly short. Cassidy admitted to wrapping her hands around his neck and squeezing until he stopped moving or breathing. Afterward, she showered with the baby’s lifeless body, cleaning them both, before placing him in the shoebox along with the blood-stained items.
When asked why she had taken such extreme measures, Cassidy’s response was steeped in fear and a profound desire to maintain the status quo. “I didn’t want to change the relationship with my mother and my family,” she told detectives. “I wanted it to stop breathing so I wouldn’t get in trouble.” The baby’s father, another teenager, had been unaware of her pregnancy and they had since broken up. 2
When Cassidy was asked what she planned on doing with the body, she responded: “I didn’t have a plan. I was gonna end up having to tell my mom, but I was waiting so I would try and find an idea of what to do with it.”3
In the days following the murder, Teresa, began to piece together the truth about her daughter’s pregnancy. She noticed bloodstains around the toilet and questioned Cassidy about what had happened. Cassidy responded with a fabricated story, claiming she had suffered a miscarriage and flushed the fetus down the toilet without looking. Believing her daughter’s explanation, Teresa took her to Lakeland Regional Medical Center to receive medical treatment for the supposed miscarriage.
While at the hospital, the situation took a turn. Hospital staff, concerned by the circumstances, contacted the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Children and Families. Investigators quickly became involved, and the case was forwarded to the PCSO Bureau of Criminal Investigations for further follow-up but before that follow-up occurred, Teresa discovered the truth.4
An autopsy conducted on the infant, referred to as “Baby Goodson,” revealed the cause of death to be asphyxia and blunt-force trauma. These findings led to Cassidy being charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.
Sheriff Grady Judd addressed the public during a press conference, offering chilling details of the case. He described how the baby was still attached to Cassidy by the umbilical cord when she choked him to death. “I just can’t get over that,” he said, his voice sombre as he contemplated the gravity of the situation. Judd acknowledged Cassidy’s youth, asking a poignant question: “Let’s remember she is a child. Where was her support system?”
As the legal process began, Teresa came to her daughter’s defence, maintaining that neither she nor Cassidy had known about the pregnancy. Teresa pointed to Cassidy’s consistent periods and lack of significant weight gain as evidence. Cassidy’s grandmother, Donna, echoed these claims, recounting that Cassidy had told her, “If I knew I was pregnant, it would have been different.” However, Cassidy’s own admission that she had deliberately worn baggy clothes to conceal her pregnancy cast doubt on the family’s assertions.5
On October 4, 2012, prosecutors announced their decision to try Cassidy as an adult, citing the severity of the charges. Under Florida law, the adult criminal justice system allowed for harsher penalties, including a mandatory life sentence for first-degree murder. Because Cassidy was only 14-years-old, she could not face the death penalty, but the possibility of a long sentence loomed over her.
However, earlier that year, the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled that mandatory life sentences for juveniles were unconstitutional, leaving Cassidy’s ultimate fate uncertain. State Attorney Jerry Hill acknowledged the complexity of the case, stating, “Legally speaking, it’s possible that it’s a life case. Practically speaking and what is the just thing to do, that will be determined as we learn more about it.”6
In December, the legal battle reached an unexpected resolution when Cassidy entered a plea deal. She pleaded guilty to manslaughter, avoiding a trial for the murder of Baby Goodson. Judge Donald Jacobsen, who presided over the case, sentenced Cassidy to at least 18 months in a state Department of Juvenile Justice “maximum risk” facility, where she would also be required to complete a treatment program.
As she left the courtroom, Cassidy wiped away tears with the sleeve of her jail-issued uniform. Judge Jacobsen, after reviewing psychological and psychiatric reports, opted for juvenile sanctions rather than an adult sentence. He explained his reasoning, saying, “It’s a horrible, horrible offense. But the circumstances of how it occurred cause me not to believe it was premeditated.”7
Footnotes:
- The Ledger, 28 September, 2012 – “Teen Charged with Killing her Newborn Son”
- The Tampa Tribune, 29 September, 2012 – “14-Year-Old Lakeland Girl Charged in Newborn’s Death”
- The Ledger, 15 November, 2012 – “Teen Mother Charged in Newborn’s Murer Feared Disappointing Parents”
- News & Politics Examiner, 28 September, 2012 – “Fourteen-Year-Old Florida Girl Arrested for Murdering Newborn”
- The Ledger, 3 October, 2012 – “Teen Didn’t Know of Pregnancy”
- The Ledger, 4 October, 2012 – “Teen Suspected of Killing Newborn”
- The Ledger, 19 December, 2012 – “Goodson Gets at Least 18 Months”
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