On June 6, 1997, while driving to her senior prom, 18-year-old Melissa Drexler complained to her friends she was experiencing stomach cramps. 

Twenty minutes after arriving at the dance, Drexler went into labor and delivered a baby in a restroom stall. 

Drexler removed the baby from the toilet bowl, placed it in a plastic bag and discarded the body in the trash before returning to the dance floor and requesting the DJ to play the Metallica song, “Unforgiven.”

Prom Mom Killer
Melissa Drexler arrives with her boyfriend John Lewis at the Lacey High School Prom at the Garden Manor in Aberdeen on Friday, June 6, 1997, as seen in this video still from Lacey High School’s WLTS. (THOMAS P. COSTELLO)

The deceased baby was soon discovered by a janitor who became suspicious of the weight of the trash bag. A teacher and one of Drexler’s classmates also noticed blood in the bathroom. When asked about it, Drexler claimed she had a heavy menstrual flow.

However, when confronted about the discovery of the deceased baby, Drexler finally admitted she had actually given birth.

The autopsy revealed that Drexler had choked the baby and smothered him, either with her hands or with the plastic bag. 

Dr. Jay Peacock, an assistant county medical examiner, concluded that the cause of death was “asphyxia due to manual strangulation and obstruction of the external airway orifices.”

However, Dr. Peacock was unable to determine if the baby was dead or alive when he was placed inside the bag.

Prom Mom Killer
Melissa Drexler after her first court appearance.

On August 20, 1998, as part of the plea agreement, Drexler pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

On November 26, 2001, she was released on parole after serving a little over three years.

In August 2018, Drexler’s name resurfaced after Radar discovered that the infamous Prom Mom had moved on from the ordeal, got married, and now has two young children of her own.

Prom Mom Killer
The “Prom Mom” Melissa Drexler and her high-school boyfriend.

Disturbingly enough, Radar also found out that Drexler reconnected with her high school boyfriend, the father of the baby she had killed. 

According to their social media profiles, Drexler and her ex-lover complimented each other on having “nice” families.

This heartbreaking story originally appeared in this year’s biggest true crime hit 365 Days of Crime.
From the death row inmate who sued the state for botching his execution, to a bank robber who gave the cashier his full name and address, 365 Days of Crime is the ULTIMATE true crime treat.