An Ohio woman who gave birth to a stillborn baby and allegedly tried to flush the fetus down the toilet will not face criminal charges, a grand jury decided Thursday.
A Trumbull County grand jury has declined to return an indictment against Brittany Watts, 34, of Warren, on a felony charge of abuse of a corpse, prosecutors announced.
Watts, who faces a $2,500 fine and up to a year in prison, suffered a miscarriage and delivered a nonviable fetus in a bathroom in September, according to the Trumbull County Coroner's Office.
The case gained national attention for its impact on pregnant women as states across the country scramble to enact new laws governing access to reproductive health care in the wake of Roe v. Wade's overturn.
“Justice has been served…The last few months have been painful for Brittany, but the grand jury has returned a verdict and she has been vindicated!” Watts' attorney, Tracy Timko, said in a statement: He said so. USA Today reported.
“Even though Brittany's fight for freedom is over, she stands with women everywhere, sharing her story and experience to help other women in Ohio not have to put off healing from their grief and trauma. “We will educate people and push for legislation to fight for their freedom and honor,” she said.
Hours later, about 150 supporters gathered for a “We Stand With Brittany!” rally. Rally at Warren Courthouse Square – Event planned before announcement of grand jury verdict.
Watts was one of several speakers at the rally.
“I want to thank my community, Warren. Warren, Ohio. I was born here. I was raised here. I graduated from high school here, and I have to keep fighting. So I'm going to stay here,” she told the crowd.
Her lawyer said an outpouring of emails, letters, phone calls, donations and prayers from the public helped her client survive the ordeal of possible criminal charges.
“As shocking and disturbing as it may sound when announced publicly, it is simply the devastating reality of miscarriage,” Timko said in a statement.
“The last three months have been difficult, but we are extremely grateful and relieved that justice was reached by the grand jury today,” she added.
City prosecutors allege Watts suffered a miscarriage when the toilet became clogged, some of its contents were dumped in an outdoor dumpster, and the 22-week-old fetus was left trapped inside the pipe. In response, a local judge found probable cause to bind Watts' lawsuit.
She was visiting Mercy Health-St. She visited Joseph Hospital, a Catholic facility in a working-class city, twice in the days leading up to her miscarriage.
Doctors told her to induce labor or risk death because she was carrying a non-viable fetus, according to case records.
Forensic pathologist George Sterbenz testified that Watts' membranes ruptured too early and the fetus was not viable due to “premature rupture of the membranes.” He added that the autopsy report showed no damage to the fetus and that the baby died before passing through the birth canal.
Prosecutors said Watts then tried to “jump” into the bathroom and left the baby for dead.
with post wire
