Detroit mom sentenced after dead newborn was found in garbage can

DETROIT (WJBK) - A Detroit woman has been sentenced after prosecutors say she killed her newborn baby, leaving her in the trash to die. 

Glencetta Gloster-Washington, 40, was sentenced to 9-20 years after the death of her newborn daughter last March. 

Relatives found Gloster-Washington bleeding and unresponsive at her home in the 2500 block of Yorkshire in Detroit. They took her to the hospital and determined she had just given birth.

Prosecutors say she gave birth to the girl, then smuggled the baby by wrapping her in a towel and putting a hair tie around her neck. Prosecutors say the baby was wrapped in a trash bag and left in the garbage can by the house. 

The defense says Gloster-Washington didn't know she was pregnant and had psychological issues at the time, and has no recollection of the memory. The prosecution disagreed. 

Gloster-Washington took a plea deal, pleading non contest to second-degree murder and avoiding a trial. If she went to trial, she was charged with first-degree murder where she could've face life in prison. 

Gloster-Washington was married at the time of the baby's death and has five other children. 

Before her sentencing, she apologized and said she didn't mean for any of this to happen.