close
Video
Fox News Flash top headlines for March 18 Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
An Alabama woman who continued to use hard drugs while pregnant admitted to using heroin while in labor just before the infant died, authorities said.
Amanda Malpas, 34, is charged with chemical endangerment of a child resulting in death, which carries the same penalty as murder, Mobile County Sheriff's investigators told Fox 10 Mobile.
Malpas told investigators she still used heroin and methamphetamine while pregnant, the station said. When she went into labor on March 5, she allegedly injected herself with heroin at home.
next
Image 1 of 2
Amanda Malpas, 34, allegedly used heroin while in labor, authorities said. Paramedics found a needle in her arm, investigators said. (MCSO)
prev
Image 2 of 2
Mobile County jail. (Google Maps)
"She admitted that when she felt the labor pains and felt the child breaching she did self-administer a large dose of heroin," Sheriff's Sgt. Mark Bailey told the news outlet. "In this situation, it’s an intentional act, it’s not just a reckless act, but it’s an intentional act," Bailey said.
Responding paramedics found the needle still in her arm, authorities said. Malpas and the baby girl, who was struggling to breathe, were rushed to a hospital. The infant died a short time later.
"You usually don't have a woman give birth in her own residence and inject herself during birth with a large dose of heroin," Bailey said.
Malpas was filmed Thursday walking on crutches to a patrol vehicle to take her to the Mobile County jail. When asked if she felt remorse, she replied "of course."
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Investigators said she hasn't shown remorse throughout their inquiry, the news outlet said. The charge against her could be upgraded to murder once a toxicology report is completed.