Woman Murders Newborn Baby Hours After Giving Birth

Hyphernkemberly Dorvilier named her newborn daughter Angelica. Several hours after delivering the baby in her home, she drove down a New Jersey roadway, stopped the vehicle, and placed the baby in the middle of the road. She then doused the newborn in accelerant and set her on fire. Angelica sustained third-degree burns to over 60% of her body and passed away at a Philadelphia hospital two hours later.

An autopsy revealed her cause of death as burns and smoke inhalation.

Onlookers Dial 911

Shocked onlookers dialed 9-1-1. Dorvilier can be heard in the background of the 911 calls repeating, “It’s not mine. It’s not mine. I didn’t do it.” She told a woman she noticed watching her that she was burning dog waste.

Police found the baby with her umbilical cord and placenta still attached. She was wrapped in power towels and her body was smoldering. Police took Dorvilier to the ground. They found a can of WD40 and a lighter in her coat pocket. She was arrested.

No one in the family or close to her knew Dorvilier was pregnant. She hid it from her mother, sister, and other family members and friends. The family told police they found blood on the floor of the downstairs bathroom of their Pemberton Township, NJ home. A trail of blood from the house led to the driveway.

Family Asks for Leniency

During sentencing, Dorvilier’s sister and mother asked Judge Terrence Cook to be lenient on the woman, saying that she needed mental help. The pleas fell upon deaf ears, with the judge stating:

“The crime in this case was committed against the weakest of the weak, a helpless newborn. All she knew was the extreme excruciating pain of being set on fire by her mother, the person who was supposed to love and protect her.”

Dorvilier Sentenced

The 23-year-old was sentenced to 30 years behind bars after pleading guilty to aggravated manslaughter under a plea deal. During sentencing, Dorvilier told the court, “I apologize first and foremost for not giving my daughter, Angelica, the life she deserved. She deserved so much better”

Dorvilier must serve 25 years, 5 months, and 29 days of her sentence before she becomes eligible for parole on July 15, 2040.

'This was an atrocious act and one that was entirely preventable given our state's law that allows someone to anonymously give up an unwanted infant,' said Burlington County Prosecutor Robert Bernardi.

Family Asks for Leniency

During sentencing, Dorvilier’s sister and mother asked Judge Terrence Cook to be lenient on the woman, saying that she needed mental help. The pleas fell upon deaf ears, with the judge stating:

“The crime in this case was committed against the weakest of the weak, a helpless newborn. All she knew was the extreme excruciating pain of being set on fire by her mother, the person who was supposed to love and protect her.”

Dorvilier Sentenced

The 23-year-old was sentenced to 30 years behind bars after pleading guilty to aggravated manslaughter under a plea deal. During sentencing, Dorvilier told the court, “I apologize first and foremost for not giving my daughter, Angelica, the life she deserved. She deserved so much better”

Dorvilier must serve 25 years, 5 months, and 29 days of her sentence before she becomes eligible for parole on July 15, 2040.

'This was an atrocious act, and one that was entirely preventable given our state's law that allows someone to anonymously give up an unwanted infant,' said Burlington County Prosecutor Robert Bernardi.