OROVILLE - An autopsy indicated the newborn son of a 20-year-old college student was strangled minutes after birth, according to the Butte County district attorney.

Gina Rose Grinsell, who is charged with murder in the death of the baby, appeared in Butte County Superior Court on Tuesday. She also is charged with felony assault on a child under the age of 8 resulting in death.

District Attorney Mike Ramsey said the autopsy results indicate Grinsell gave birth to a full-term 9-pound, 6-ounce, 22-inch boy who was alive and in good health at delivery.
"The baby appeared to have been strangled within minutes after being born," he said.

Investigators say Grinsell was alone when she gave birth to the baby Thursday night in her room at Kappa Sigma Delta as a party was taking place in other parts of the California State University, Chico, sorority house.

The next evening she sought assistance at a walk-in health clinic with some of her sorority sisters. An employee called 911 to report that the women had received a call from the sorority house telling them that a dead baby had been found in the house.

Grinsell, a sophomore from San Francisco, cried during her court appearance, as did other members of her sorority who had come to the hearing.

Chico defense attorney Dennis Latimer was retained to represent Grinsell and was with her at the hearing. She is scheduled to enter a plea at 8:30 a.m. April 12 and remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail.

"It's a tragic case for everyone involved," Ramsey said. "Not only has she thrown away the life of her son, she most likely has thrown away a goodly portion of her own life."

Latimer could not be reached for comment after the hearing.