Local News

Woman arrested in Fla. in connection with 2016 discovery of infant remains in Smithfield

A Johnston County woman has been arrested in Florida in connection with the discovery of infant remains found under a Smithfield home in April of 2016.

Posted Updated
Bridgette Smith, infant remains found under Smithfield house
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — A Johnston County woman has been arrested in Florida in connection with the discovery of infant remains found under a Smithfield home in April 2016.

James Morgan, who rented a home at 102 Hartley Drive, found two trash bags in a crawl space last April when he was running a cable under the house. When he checked to see what was inside, he found human remains wrapped in towels.

Bridgette Morgan Smith, 41, who was named a person of interest in the case last year, was arrested in Jacksonville, Fla., on Wednesday and charged with concealing or failing to report a death.

Smith waived extradition, but there was no word on when she would be returned to North Carolina.

Smith’s mother, Pamela McBride, told police that Smith tried to hide several pregnancies in the past, according to a 2016 application for a warrant to search the home where the remains were found.

McBride estimated that Smith had been pregnant about 10 times, but she knew what happened to only three of the children- two were in McBride’s custody, and a third was given up for adoption.

McBride told police in 2016 that Smith had battled drug addiction in the past.

 Credits 

Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.