An Ohio woman who gave birth to a stillborn baby and allegedly tried to flush the fetus down the toilet will not be criminally charged, a grand jury ruled Thursday.
A Trumbull County grand jury declined to return an indictment for felony abuse of a corpse against Brittany Watts, 34, of Warren, the prosecutor’s office announced.
Watts, who faces a $2,500 fine and up to a year in jail, miscarried in September and gave birth to a nonviable fetus in a toilet, according to the Trumbull County Coroner’s Office.
The case sparked national attention because of its implications for pregnant women as states across the US enacted new laws regulating access to reproductive health care following Roe v. Wade canceled.
“Justice has been served… Although the past few months have been painful for Brittany, the grand jury has spoken and she was vindicated!” Watts’ attorney, Traci Timko, said in a statement, USA Today reported.
Brittany Watts, 34, an Ohio woman who suffered a miscarriage at home and allegedly flushed her nonviable fetus down the toilet, will not be criminally charged. AP Brittany Watts, 34, of Warren, Ohio, will not commit a crime after suffering a miscarriage at home and allegedly flushing her nonviable fetus down the toilet, a grand jury ruled. AP
“While Brittany’s fight for freedom is over, she stands with women everywhere and will use her story and experience to educate and push for legislation to ensure that no other woman in the State of Ohio has to put healing from grief and trauma on the back burner. to fight for his freedom and reputation,” he said.
A few hours later, about 150 supporters gathered for “We Stand With Brittany!” rally in Warren’s Courthouse Square — an event that had been planned before the announcement of the grand jury verdict.
Watts was among several speakers who spoke at the rally.
Watts has been accused of clogging her toilet with fetuses and going about her “day.” WKBN
“I want to thank my community – Warren. Warren, Ohio. I was born here. I grew up here. I graduated high school here, and I’m going to stay here because I have to keep fighting,” he told People many
His attorney said an outpouring of emails, letters, calls, donations and prayers from the public helped his client weather the potential criminal charges.
“No matter how shocking or disturbing it may sound when presented in a public forum, it is simply the terrible reality of miscarriage,” Timko said in the statement.
Supporters of Brittany Watts cheer at a rally Thursday in Warren Ohio. AP A group from St. Michael the Archangel School in Findlay, Ohio, gathers during the Ohio March for Life rally at the Ohio State House in Columbus in October. AP
“Although the past three months have been full of agony, we are extremely grateful and relieved that justice has been delivered by the grand jury today,” he added.
A local judge has found probable cause to bind Watts over after city prosecutors say she miscarried — clogging the toilet and flushing some of its contents into an outdoor garbage area — and leaving the 22-week-old fetus stuck in a pipe.
He has visited Mercy Health-St. Joseph’s Hospital, a Catholic facility in a working-class town, twice in the days leading up to her miscarriage.
Mercy Health-St. Joseph’s Hospital, where Watts had visited. AP
Her doctor had told her she was carrying a non-viable fetus and was told to give birth or risk a “significant risk” of death, according to records in the case.
Forensic pathologist George Sterbenz testified that the fetus was not viable because of “premature rupture of the amniotic fluid” due to Watts’ water breaking early.
He added that the autopsy report found that there were no injuries to the fetus and that the baby had died before passing through the birth canal.
Prosecutors allege that Watts tried to “flush” the toilet afterwards and left the baby to die.
By Postal Wire
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
