Vasquez indicted for felony murder

The mother accused of killing her 8-day-old baby has been indicted on first degree pre-meditated murder and aggravated child abuse charges, following a grand jury hearing May 3.

On April 16, Michelle Marie Vasquez, 34, of Midway, was arrested by Santa Rosa County Sheriff's deputies when she emerged from the woods near her parents' home on Congress Street, saying she killed her baby.

Vasquez was reported missing by her parents, with who she was living with at the time, on April 15. She had taken her infant, Madison Marie Florez, with her.

The following day, Vasquez's stepfather, flagged down deputies, claiming to have found his stepdaughter and grand-daughter in the woods.

In a report released by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, Vasquez left her parent's home because "she felt that she did not belong there."  Vasquez told Deputy Scott Zohn that she wanted to live on the streets.

Zonh's report stated that Vasquez admitted holding the baby "really tight to comfort her."  She also repeatedly stated "I killed my baby," and "I am a murderer," while Zohn was questioning her.

When Zohn asked Vasquez if she knew what would happen if she held a baby too tight, she said "die."

Vasquez, who is an unemployed single mother, also has a two year-old daughter. 

By the time authorities found Vasquez, the baby appeared to have been dead "for some time."  Deputies found her wrapped in a blanket, lying on the ground.

An investigation by the sheriff's office and the Office of the Medical Examiner revealed that Vasquez had smothered the child.

When asked if Vasquez had been suffering from postpartum depression, her mother said she seemed fine.

Vasquez was scheduled to be in court for an arraignment hearing Wednesday, May 12.