Woman Charged Over 'Manslaughter' Of Fetus

Makedde · #1 (**permalink**) 07-19-2008, 10:26 PM

Quote:

A local woman has been arrested after she was accused of killing her unborn child by cutting the umbilical cord, authorities said Monday.

Jennifer Darlene Johnson, 30, of 1796 Lauderdale 7, Florence, has been charged with manslaughter, authorities said.

Manslaughter is a Class B felony, which is punishable by two to 20 years if convicted.

Florence police detective Capt. Ron Tyler said Johnson was seven months into her pregnancy when she was taken to Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield on Friday night, where her baby was delivered. Tyler said the baby was dead at birth.

"She said her water broke sometime Friday morning and then she started experiencing pain and bleeding and was taken to Helen Keller Hospital," Tyler said.

He said medical personnel at Keller Hospital, during the course of the baby's delivery, discovered the umbilical cord had been "severed while still inside the mother's uterus."

"Investigators believe the evidence demonstrates that the death of the infant is directly related to the intentional severing of the umbilical cord," Tyler said.

Police say it is believed the cord was severed while Johnson was at her boyfriend's house at Cherry Hill Homes in Florence. Officials said the boyfriend drove Johnson to the hospital after recognizing something was wrong with her.

Detective Kevin Jackson, who along with detective Jerry Pearson conducted the investigation, said the baby died late Friday night and that the police were notified Saturday morning after medical personnel determined the umbilical cord had been cut.

Jackson said Johnson was released from the hospital Sunday but was taken into custody by Florence police a short time later on outstanding traffic tickets. She was held in the Lauderdale County Detention Center until Monday, when the manslaughter charge was issued.

Lauderdale County District Attorney Chris Connolly said his investigators worked throughout the weekend with the police department on the case.

He said the case could be presented to a grand jury session later this year.

"Certainly, the events surrounding this case are highly unusual," Tyler said. "Though under normal circumstances, the members of our police department would be sensitive to the needs of a mother who recently lost her baby.

"But, our investigators simply could not ignore or overlook the evidence in this case, and the decision was made to charge the infant's mother with manslaughter."

Investigators said several pieces of evidence, which are believed to have been connected with the incident, have been collected and will be turned over to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for examination.

Johnson was in the Lauderdale County Detention Center on Monday on bail totaling $50,000

Woman Charged

Bullcrap. Does someone want to tell me how she managed to do this?
The only way I can see an umbilical cord being severed in utero is if someone put their arm inside the woman - while holding a knife or pair of scissors - felt around, and took a guess and snipped.

Is this what the police will argue happened?

The cord likely severed by itself, perhaps by becoming tangled. I find it very hard to believe anyone could cut the cord while the fetus was still in utero.

katiegrrl0 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-19-2008, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Makedde

Woman Charged

Bullcrap. Does someone want to tell me how she managed to do this?
The only way I can see an umbilical cord being severed in utero is if someone put their arm inside the woman - while holding a knife or pair of scissors - felt around, and took a guess and snipped.

Is this what the police will argue happened?

The cord likely severed by itself, perhaps by becoming tangled. I find it very hard to believe anyone could cut the cord while the fetus was still in utero.

I'm with you. I can't imagine how she could do that.

Makedde · #3 (**permalink**) 07-19-2008, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katiegrrl0

I'm with you. I can't imagine how she could do that.

I find it pathetic they even think such a thing is possible! A little common sense is all it takes...

katiegrrl0 · #4 (**permalink**) 07-19-2008, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Makedde

I find it pathetic they even think such a thing is possible! A little common sense is all it takes...

The positioning alone would make it quite difficult. Just can't get there from here in my mind.

Joker · #5 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Makedde

I find it pathetic they even think such a thing is possible! A little common sense is all it takes...

This method has been emplyed enough to get it listed as a common form of self-induced abortion on wikipedia:

Quote:

There are a number of anecdotally recorded and disseminated methods of performing a self-induced abortion. These may include:

physical exertion designed to bring about a miscarriage
abdominal massage
receiving punches, kicks, or other blows to the abdominal area
attempted removal of the fetus with a coat-hanger or similar device inserted into the uterus through the cervix (the historical use of this method has led to the use of coathangers as a symbol of the abortion rights movement, which associates self-induced abortion with the illegality of abortion)

attempted piercing of the fetus with a knitting needle or similar device inserted into the uterus through the cervix
suction through the insertion of a rubber tube into the uterus via the cervix
ingesting abortifacients, high quantities of vitamin C, Pennyroyal or other substances believed to induce miscarriage
douching with substances believed to induce miscarriage (beginning in the 1960s, many women used Coca Cola for this purpose, although its utility is at least dubious)

Of course, I don't know if she is guilty or not, but it possible. All you need is a hanger, and a dream.

Makedde · #6 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 07:33 PM

There is nothing there that suggest she could have had a hand up inside her, her waters broken, and the cord cut with a knife. That would virtually impossible to do, I believe.

katiegrrl0 · #7 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joker

This method has been emplyed enough to get it listed as a common form of self-induced abortion on wikipedia:

Of course, I don't know if she is guilty or not, but it possible. All you need is a hanger, and a dream.

There was much information there but as the crime or so called crime is discribed i find it impossible. Thanks for the info by the way.

Joker · #8 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Makedde

There is nothing there that suggest she could have had a hand up inside her, her waters broken, and the cord cut with a knife. That would virtually impossible to do, I believe.

Like I said, I don't know, but you are adding an awful lot to the story than was written in the article. We don't know that she stuck her hand up her manko, nor if she used a knife.

All I know is that it is very possible to kill a fetus with a coat hanger or a sewing needle by punctering its body. Of course, if you're sticking a hanger or needle up into your happyfunplace, there's always a chance you just might sever the umbilical cord.

Whatever happened, the article doesn't try to explain how it happened, and you're assumptions don't suffice as a credible argument.

Joker · #9 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katiegrrl0

There was much information there but as the crime or so called crime is discribed i find it impossible. Thanks for the info by the way.

That's the thing. The article doesn't make much of an attempt to describe the incident other than to say that the cord was cut.

Perhaps the cord was cut naturally-- maybe the baby kicked it or pulled at it. I don't know. I suppose such things may be possible.

On the other hand, the article mentions something about this case being highly unusual and evidence that couldn't be ignored. There may be a lot of details in this case that aren't being mentioned because it is an ongoing investigation.

katiegrrl0 · #10 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joker

That's the thing. The article doesn't make much of an attempt to describe the incident other than to say that the cord was cut.

Perhaps the cord was cut naturally-- maybe the baby kicked it or pulled at it. I don't know. I suppose such things may be possible.

On the other hand, the article mentions something about this case being highly unusual and evidence that couldn't be ignored. There may be a lot of details in this case that aren't being mentioned because it is an ongoing investigation.

Yes it sounds to be an unusual case. they say that her boyfriend brought her to the hospital may between them they botched an abortion attempt. That is a possibility.

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