Miscarriage

Woman Cleared of Criminal Charges After Miscarriage, Advocates Celebrate Victory for Reproductive Rights

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Warren, Ohio – An Ohio woman who faced a criminal charge after suffering a miscarriage at home will not be indicted, according to the decision made by a Trumbull County grand jury on Thursday. The case, which drew criticism from reproductive rights advocates, was dismissed by the grand jury. Brittany Watts, 34, of Warren, Ohio, had been charged with felony abuse of a corpse after she miscarried last September and passed her nonviable fetus in her bathroom. Watts was initially facing a $2,500 fine and up to a year in prison. However, with the grand … Read more

Ohio Grand Jury Drops Felony Abuse of a Fetus Charge Against Black Woman After Miscarriage

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Warren, Ohio – A grand jury in Ohio has decided against indicting a Black woman on charges of felony abuse of a corpse following a miscarriage. The grand jury’s decision means that 34-year-old Brittany Watts will not face criminal charges, according to a statement released by the Trumbull County prosecutor’s office. Watts’ attorney, Traci Timko, expressed her satisfaction with the outcome, stating that “justice has been served”. Watts suffered a miscarriage when she was approximately 22 weeks pregnant after being informed by her doctors that the pregnancy was not viable. The incident occurred on September … Read more

Ohio Woman Cleared of Crime After Miscarriage Trauma and Arrested for Handling Fetal Remains

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Warren, Ohio – A Northeast Ohio woman who faced charges after a miscarriage will not be indicted, according to recent developments in her case. Brittany Watts, 34, had been accused of abuse of a corpse after fetal remains were discovered in a clogged toilet at her home in September. However, a grand jury has decided not to press charges against her. The incident occurred prior to November’s election, but the news of the charges emerged after the passage of Ohio’s reproductive rights amendment. This amendment guarantees access to miscarriage care, a provision that opponents argued … Read more

No Criminal Charges Laid in Ohio Miscarriage Case as Jury Declines Indictment

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WARREN, Ohio — A woman in Trumbull County, Ohio, will not face criminal charges after a grand jury declined to indict her for abuse of a corpse. Brittany Watts, 34, was arrested in October on allegations of miscarrying her 21-week-old fetus at home and attempting to dispose of the remains by flushing them down the toilet. However, following an autopsy that determined the fetus had died in utero, the grand jury decided not to pursue charges. Watts pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of abuse of a corpse and could have faced imprisonment for … Read more