A teenager freaked out after giving birth in her family's tent and punched the newborn - who later died - because she did not want her family to know she was pregnant.
Alyce Morales, 18, from Cicero, Illinois, was on a family camping trip when she told her parents she felt sick and was going to lie down in the tent.
Though she knew she was pregnant, after she gave birth she panicked and punched the baby in the head with a closed fist.
Her father walked into the tent to check on her soon after and called 911 when he saw the baby girl, who died the next day in hospital.
Baby Marie Morales was born shortly after 11pm on July 22 at the Platte River Campground in Benzie County.
The Traverse City Record Eagle reported the teen 'made several admissions' to state police that she caused the infant harm.
'Alyce was asked if she felt her actions had caused all of the injuries to the baby,' the court document states. 'She responded that she did.'
The detective in charge of the case wrote in court documents that Alyce 'did not want to tell her parents (about being pregnant) for fear of disappointment'.
Michigan State Police Sgt Scott Bates said: 'The doctor described injuries consistent with blunt force trauma.'
The initial cause of death was believed to be hypothermia and lack of timely medical care. But an autopsy performed in Grand Rapids discovered 'serious injuries' to the newborn’s head and abdomen.
She was denied bail as she is being considered a flight risk and is charged with open murder, which carries a maximum life imprisonment penalty.
Open murder means the jury will decide after more evidence is presented if she will be charged with first or second degree murder.
