A case against an Ohio woman who gave birth to a stillborn baby will now go before a grand jury, as prosecutors accused her of abusing her baby’s corpse by trying to “throw” it down a toilet.
Brittany Watts, 33, has been charged with the felony after clogging a toilet with her baby and leaving it there while “she went about her day,” prosecutors said.
However, forensic pathologist George Sterbenz testified that the fetus was not viable due to a “premature rupture of membranes” when Watts’ water broke early, according to WKBN.
“The fetus was too young to be born,” Sterbenz said.
The forensic pathologist added that the autopsy report found no injuries to the fetus and that the baby had died before passing through the birth canal.
Watts says she felt the baby come out at 22 weeks and then there was a “big splash,” according to the local outlet. Prosecutors alleged she tried to “sink” the toilet afterward and left the baby for dead in the toilet.
Brittany Watts, 33, has been accused of clogging a toilet with her baby and leaving it there while “she went about her day,” prosecutors said. WKBN However, forensic pathologist George Sterbenz testified that the fetus was “nonviable” due to a “premature rupture of membranes” when Watts’ water broke early. WKBN
Law enforcement officers found the baby in the bathroom inside their home on September 22.
“The problem is not how the child died, when he died; it’s the fact that they placed the baby in a toilet, big enough to clog it, left him in that toilet and she continued. [with] his day,” said prosecutor Lewis Guarnieri.
Watts was charged with abuse of a corpse and she pleaded not guilty. She has been released on $5,000 bail.
Prosecutors alleged that Watts tried to “sink” the toilet afterward and left the baby for dead in the toilet. WKBN Watts and advocacy groups had asked for the case to be dismissed, but were denied. Watts was overcome with emotion after hearing that her felony case would go before a grand jury. WKBN
Her attorney, Traci Timko, says Watts is being “demonized for something that happens every day,” according to WKBN.
Watts had asked for the case to be dismissed, but it was denied. Watts was overcome with emotion after hearing that her felony case would go before a grand jury, according to WKBN.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn