High school prom baby killer released from jail
A woman who killed her baby after giving birth at a high school prom is out of jail.
Melissa Drexler served just over three years of her 15-year sentence at a New Jersey jail.
She gave birth in the ladies toilets before killing the infant and returning to the dance floor.
Drexler, now 23, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in 1998.
As an 18-year-old final-year student at Lacey Township High School, Drexler concealed her pregnancy from the baby's father and her parents.
She gave birth on June 6, 1997, in a restroom while at the prom, strangled the baby and threw the 6lbs 6oz boy into a trash can before eating a salad and returning to the dance.
She was originally charged with murder but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of aggravated manslaughter. Her sentence allowed her to come up for parole in September.
Drexler, who got her high school diploma in 1997 but did not attend graduation, took fashion courses while in prison and hopes to work in the industry, says her lawyer, Steven Secare.
