Melissa Drexler

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Melissa Drexler (born 1978, a.k.a. "The Prom Mom"), delivered a baby in a restroom stall at her high school prom, and threw the body in the trash before returning to the dance. She pled guilty to aggravated manslaughter, and was sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment. After serving nearly 37 months, she was released on parole. She was given her dubious nickname by the American media.

Drexler attended Lacey Township High School, New Jersey. Over the course of nearly nine months she kept her pregnancy secret from the baby's father, her parents, and her new boyfriend, John T. Lewis, Jr. Five foot seven inches tall, and weighing 60 kg (130 pounds), she apparently showed no signs of her condition.

On June 6, 1997, the day of her senior prom, the eighteen-year-old's water broke in the morning, and she later suffered contractions on her way to the banquet hall. Upon arrival, she retreated to the restroom, where the baby was born in about 15–30 minutes. According to her allocution, Drexler then retrieved the baby from the toilet bowl, cut the umbilical cord on the bathroom fixtures, wrapped the baby in several garbage sacks, and deposited the bundle in a trash can. She then went to the dance floor and, according to witnesses, "appeared to be just as she always was" and "exhibited indications of somebody enjoying the prom." Some reports at the time stated that she requested the song "The Unforgiven" by Metallica, but later reports denied this. However, others alleged that she ate a salad and danced afterwards.

The baby was discovered by a janitor who responded to reports of blood in the restroom, and who became suspicious of the weight of the trash bag. Emergency workers attempted to resuscitate the baby for two hours. Drexler later named the baby Christopher.

Originally charged with murder, Drexler pled guilty to aggravated manslaughter on October 29, 1998, and Judge John A. Ricciardi sentenced her to 15 years in prison, the maximum penalty. On November 26, 2001, she was released on parole after serving a little over three years.

[edit] References In Popular Culture

In the Family Guy episode, "Airport '07" that debuted on March 4, 2007, the 'Prom Mom' incident was referenced in a musical number entitled "Prom Night Dumpster Baby".
In the Drawn Together episode "The Other Cousin", Wooldoor Sockbat mentioned about the prom queen dumpster baby as well.
In the Venture Bros. episode "Mid-Life Chrysalis", a character complains that "my looks are going down the toilet faster than an unwanted pregnancy on prom night".