A Florida judge on Thursday denied a request to allow Brianna Moore, 21, to return to Mississippi while she awaits trial for the alleged killing of her newborn daughter. Moore, a former University of Tampa student, is accused of killing her infant after giving birth alone in a dormitory bathroom in April 2024.

Moore had recently posted $262,500 in bond and was released from jail after nearly two years of incarceration. Her attorneys had asked Hillsborough Circuit Judge Lawrence Lefler to permit her to reside with relatives in Mississippi until her November trial, arguing that her electronic monitoring device was excessively burdensome. Attorney Jonah Dickstein described the GPS monitor as being "like a ball and chain" and "several inches thick."

However, Judge Lefler expressed skepticism, noting that other defendants had managed to remove similar devices. He questioned the practicalities of enforcing Moore's release conditions from hundreds of miles away, stating, "I don’t know how big Quitman is. I don’t know if they have a police force. I have no idea if there’s any way to enforce that."

Moore's defense team argued that she posed no flight risk, citing her lack of funds, no passport, and an expired driver's license. They stated she had 48 cents to her name upon leaving jail and that her family, who had been attending court hearings from Mississippi, offered multiple potential residences. Attorney Idalis Vento added that Moore had no means of transportation and that staying in Hillsborough County would hinder her ability to find work and expose her to public harassment due to case publicity.

Attorneys also highlighted Moore's cooperation with investigators, her completion of the academic semester following the birth, and her subsequent transfer to a Mississippi university. They noted she had provided authorities with addresses where she could be located and remained in Mississippi for six months before her arrest. Her cremated remains were returned to her family in Mississippi.

Prosecutors opposed the motion, asserting that no circumstances had changed since the initial release conditions were set and reiterating concerns about inter-state supervision. The judge ultimately denied the request, ordering Moore to remain in Hillsborough County and requiring her to secure a permanent local address within seven business days.

The court also addressed concerns raised by prosecutors regarding Moore's release on bond without a permanent address in the county, to which the judge acknowledged the issue but stated he could not compel Moore to do the impossible immediately after her release. Her bail agent is also required to submit weekly reports on her movements.

Moore faces charges including aggravated manslaughter. Defense medical and psychological experts have suggested the child's death may have been unintentional during the delivery and that Moore may have experienced a cryptic pregnancy, being unaware of her condition until labor. She was arrested in October 2024 at her Mississippi home after having returned there following the incident. Her trial is scheduled for November.