Woman to be Charged After Miscarriage? - Political Forum

Izzibeth · 06-09-2007, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Daily Times

One charge dropped against Pa. woman with fetus in freezer
The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH — A woman who put her miscarried fetus in her freezer will not be tried on one of the charges against her, according to a spokesman for the prosecutor.

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. has decided to drop a charge of abuse of a corpse against Christine Hutchinson, 22, of Pittsburgh, Zappala’s spokesman Mike Manko said Tuesday.

Last month, a district judge ordered Hutchinson to stand trial on that charge, as well as concealing the death of a child.

Abuse of a corpse “will not be on the [court] documents when they are filed during formal arraignment,” Manko said.

Defense attorney Lawrence Fisher said prosecutors will withdraw the remaining charge once Hutchinson agrees to continue treatment for depression.

Manko, however, would not confirm dismissal of the case.

“It’s been communicated to defense counsel that our research on the laws is complete and the only charge we will be moving forward is concealing the death of a child,” Manko said. “Beyond that, there is no deal.”

Hutchinson had the miscarriage 15 to 20 weeks into her pregnancy, wrapped the fetus in two bags and put it in a beer carton in her freezer April 22. She didn’t call for medical help or other assistance.

Police, acting on a tip, found the remains in her freezer May 17.

The county medical examiner determined the fetus died in utero, apparently from natural causes.

I am very confused about this case. When it was found out that this woman had gone through the traumatic experience of miscarrying and then, most likely in a state of confusion and other extreme feelings, decided to hide her miscarriage instead of seeking medical help... why was the reaction not "We are sorry for your loss... please let us take over this situation now and assist you in getting some help for the physical and emotional pain you must be feeling" instead of .... "We're going to make up some kind of crime here so we can punish you for what you did."?

I just don't get it. What happened to her and what she did in reaction to it does not warrant any punishment at all. She lost her child and then hid the body (for any number of reasons). Is the crime hiding the body? Because if so... I believe that charge is being dropped as stated in the article. I fail to see how what happened makes her a criminal worthy of punishment. What she needs is assistance.

mairead · 06-18-2007, 11:22 AM

The poor lady was probably so shocked and emotionally distressed that she did not know what she was doing. Surely the law has much more serious matters they could be bringing to court.

Ygorl · 06-18-2007, 01:02 PM

Good god almighty.

Yeah, she obviously doesn't stand to gain anything (nor does anyone else) by being charged with a crime.

She needs a psych eval and some counseling probably. I mean, I understand this to a certain degree but stickiing the damn thing in a freezer in two bags and a beer carton ?

Even I wouldn't do that piss ass DRUNK (I've done some pretty bizarre stuff). That isn't right at ALL.

Ygorl · 06-18-2007, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mairead

The poor lady was probably so shocked and emotionally distressed that she did not know what she was doing. Surely the law has much more serious matters they could be bringing to court.

Oh, most definitely

Mrs CJ Parker · 06-24-2007, 09:08 AM

Ah, but there is no compassion for women nor children from the radical right religious philosophies we've lived under since 1980. It's always a look at charges against them for possible abortions which are, however, legal under federal law.

This anti-womanhood is really getting old. We sound more like the desires of an AlQaida state of burkhas than the Muslim radical religious countries.

Oedipus Rex · 06-24-2007, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reginald

Ah, but there is no compassion for women nor children from the radical right religious philosophies we've lived under since 1980. It's always a look at charges against them for possible abortions which are, however, legal under federal law.

This anti-womanhood is really getting old. We sound more like the desires of an AlQaida state of burkhas than the Muslim radical religious countries.

Wow! You got all of that from the article??? Or did you just ASSume it had to be Republican, ultra-right wing Conservative christians because the woman was being 'persecuted'? You then go on to equate them with Al Quaida and accuse them of 'anti-womanhood'... whatever the hell that means.

yhwhluver · 06-24-2007, 03:36 PM

Especially since the prosecutor, Stephen A. Zappala Jr., is a Democrat. Woops, there goes that theory, Reginald.

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Alun · 07-18-2007, 02:40 AM

...maybe they're just using the charges to force her into treatment--like it says in the article.

Zeus · 09-10-2007, 07:19 PM

after going through a miscarrage this is not something that should happen to you. even if it is odd to freeze it she did not kill it so i don't see how they have any standing to charge her. unless she caused it on purpose but that would be horrible. although i think anyone who has a miscarrage should get a little depression help just because of the bad experience.

BellaDonna · 09-10-2007, 08:02 PM

That poor woman. Regardless of the prosecuting attorney's politics, this appears to be a politically-driven case. Because 2 years ago this same prosecutor neglected to charge another man for keeping fetuses in his freezer, because the fetuses weren't born alive.

Quote:

The decision to prosecute Hutchinson appears to contradict a decision Zappala's office made two years ago in a still-pending case against a funeral director. Robert B. Winston, 62, is accused of storing the remains of hundreds of fetuses and babies in the garage at his McKeesport home after a hospital paid him to have them cremated.

Zappala charged Winston with 19 counts of abuse of a corpse for how Winston treated the remains of 19 babies that died shortly after birth. The district attorney's office said at the time that no charges were filed over remains from abortions, stillbirths and miscarriages because the fetuses hadn't been born alive.

Woman To Stand Trial For Putting Fetus In Freezer - News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh

I suspect there's something going on behind the scenes as is so often done today that's driving this case to make the miscarried fetus out to be a "baby" to set some kind of precedent for future abortion cases.