Current:Home > ScamsOhio woman who miscarried won't be criminally charged, prosecutor says -VisionFunds
Ohio woman who miscarried won't be criminally charged, prosecutor says
View
Date:2025-04-23 09:35:17
An Ohio woman who miscarried won't be criminally charged for abuse of a corpse, the Trumbull County prosecutor's office said Thursday.
A grand jury returned a "no bill" in the case against Brittany Watts, 33, of Warren, Ohio, the prosecutor said, meaning they decided there will be no indictment. In the court filing, the grand jury foreman said the jury met for two days and examined seven witnesses regarding Watts' miscarriage before issuing their decision.
Watts, at 21 weeks and 5 days pregnant, began passing thick blood clots and made her first prenatal visit to a doctor's office in September 2023. The doctor told her that her water had broken prematurely and the baby most likely wouldn't survive. Over the next three days, Watts made multiple trips to the hospital before miscarrying into her home toilet. Testimony and an autopsy later confirmed that the fetus had died in the womb.
She then flushed and plunged her toilet, leading to a police investigation, and police found the remains of the fetus wedged in the pipes. Watts was initially charged with abuse of a corpse on October 4, a fifth-degree felony punishable by up to a year in prison and a $2,500 fine. On Nov.2, 2023, the case was turned over to the Trumbull County prosecutor so criminal charges could be independently determined, the prosecutor's office said in a statement Thursday afternoon. Prosecutors investigated the case before presenting the findings before the grand jury.
The case against Watts, who is Black, set off a firestorm over the treatment of pregnant women, in particular Black women, in the aftermath of the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
"This 33-year-old girl with no criminal record is demonized for something that goes on every day," Watts' attorney, Traci Timko, told the judge at a recent preliminary hearing, The Associated Press reported. She said the delay in the hospital's response when Watts sought medical care was due to hospital officials debating the legal concerns.
"It was the fear of, is this going to constitute an abortion and are we able to do that," she said, The AP reported. Trumbull County prosecutor Dennis Watkins said in the Thursday statement that his office suffered "criticism and vicious personal attacks by the few who didn't understand that a reasonable amount of time was needed" to investigate the case.
Research has shown that Black women have a higher rate of miscarriage than White women, and a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that Black women are three times more likely to die due to a pregnancy-related issue than White women, due to factors including the quality of health care, underlying health conditions, structural racism and implicit bias.
–The Associated Press contributed reporting.
- In:
- Ohio
Cara Tabachnick is a news editor and journalist at CBSNews.com. Cara began her career on the crime beat at Newsday. She has written for Marie Claire, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. She reports on justice and human rights issues. Contact her at [email protected]
veryGood! (95)
Related
- The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
- Karen Read asks Massachusetts high court to dismiss two charges
- Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky's Kids Are Their Spitting Image in Red Carpet Appearance
- Watch Army veteran literally jump for joy over this surprise gift from his wife
- Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
- Kate Gosselin zip-tied son Collin and locked him in a basement, he claims
- 2024 VMAs: We're Down Bad for Taylor Swift's UFO-Inspired Wardrobe Change
- Déjà vu: Blue Jays' Bowden Francis unable to finish no-hitter vs. Mets
- Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
- Apple Watch Series 10: a larger and brighter screen, here is what we know
Ranking
- Dick Vitale announces he is cancer free: 'Santa Claus came early'
- University of Mississippi official and her husband are indicted on animal cruelty charges
- Why Orlando Bloom’s Reaction to Katy Perry’s 2024 MTV VMAs Performance Has the Internet Buzzing
- Southern Baptist trustees back agency president but warn against needless controversy
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Fed official broke ethics rules but didn’t violate insider trading laws, probe finds
- 71-year-old boater found dead in Grand Canyon, yet another fatality at the park in 2024
- The Best Kate Spade Outlet Deals Under $100 – Score $39 Wallets, $39 Wristlets, $58 Crossbodies & More
Recommendation
Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam
Tyreek Hill police incident: What happened during traffic stop according to body cam
Biden marks 30th anniversary of passage of landmark Violence Against Women Act
2024 MTV VMAs Red Carpet Fashion: See Every Look as the Stars Arrive
Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
Campbell removing 'soup' from iconic company name after 155 years
Get 50% Off Lancome Concealer, Beautyblender, L'ange Hair Care, StriVectin Neck Serum & $10 Ulta Deals
The Dave Grohl new baby drama is especially disappointing. Here's why.