Alicia Gina Carranza, 23, gave birth at a San Antonio halfway house last week, authorities said, hiding her pregnancy from authorities because the halfway house does not allow pregnant women to be residents, the San Antonio (Texas) Express-News said Sunday.

"After giving birth, she admitted to detectives that she actually smothered the child," San Antonio Police Officer Joe Rios alleged.

The body of the newborn was found Friday inside a dryer after women working in the laundry room noticed several bloody towels, police said. Carranza was linked to the slain newborn after police learned her bed sheets were also covered with blood, the Express-News said.

Citing court records, the newspaper said Carranza was previously arrested in 2006 and charged with two counts of child abandonment.