Coventry Student Jailed for Baby Murder After Hiding Newborn in Cereal Box
A Coventry University student has been found guilty of murdering her newborn after hiding the baby inside a cereal box and stashing it in a suitcase. Jia Xin Teo, 22, kept her pregnancy secret and was convicted at Warwick Crown Court despite claiming voices told her to harm her child.
Secret Pregnancy Ends in Tragedy
Teo, originally from Malaysia, gave birth at full term on March 4, 2024, at her Raglan Street flat. She concealed her pregnancy from everyone, including her flatmates and friends. After birth, she placed the infant in a cereal box, sealed it in a plastic bag, and hid it inside a suitcase.
The Crown Prosecution Service revealed the baby was alive after birth and could have survived. But Teo “made the decision to place her inside a cereal box knowing that it would kill her.”
Police Called After Suspicious Hospital Visit
Two days after the birth, hospital staff alerted West Midlands Police when Teo arrived showing signs of recently giving birth. She initially denied having the baby but later admitted it, explaining she feared her family in Malaysia would find out and affect her studies.
James Leslie Francis from the CPS slammed Teo’s actions: “She arrived in the UK knowing she was likely to give birth here and had the opportunity to seek help. She chose to carry her pregnancy in secret and give birth alone, refusing medical aid and lying to friends, hospital staff, and police to hide the baby.”
Sentencing Date Still Pending
Teo’s sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
