Kentucky Police Ignore State Law to Arrest Woman for Allegedly Self-Managing Abortion

"The woman, whom Jezebel is choosing not to name, reportedly went to a healthcare clinic last week, where she told staff she'd recently taken abortion pills she'd ordered through the mail to end an unwanted pregnancy, and buried the fetal remains in her backyard. According to the Kentucky State Police (KSP), someone at the clinic tipped off authorities, and the woman was arrested on Dec. 31 and charged with fetal homicide in the first degree, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with physical evidence."

"That law is 507A.020, which the state passed in 2004 and which considers " fetal homicide" a capital offense-but it explicitly exempts any pregnant woman who causes "the death of her unborn child." It's also important to note that there are no legal standards or universal guidelines for how to dispose of fetal remains after an abortion, miscarriage, or pregnancy loss."

A 35-year-old Kentucky woman reported taking mailed abortion pills and burying fetal remains, then informed clinic staff and was reported to police. Kentucky State Police arrested her on Dec. 31 and charged her with first-degree fetal homicide, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with physical evidence. Kentucky law 507A.020, enacted in 2004, deems fetal homicide a capital offense but explicitly exempts pregnant women who cause the death of their unborn child. There are no universal legal standards for disposal of fetal remains after abortion, miscarriage, or pregnancy loss. The incident reflects growing fetal personhood influence and legal misapplication.

Read at Jezebel