Charges in fetus death depend on autopsy findings

Homicide detectives arrive at the family house of the woman who told nurses she discarded her baby. Homicide detectives arrive at the family house of the woman who told nurses she discarded her baby. Photo: . Photo: . Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Charges in fetus death depend on autopsy findings 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

Authorities are awaiting the results of an autopsy before deciding whether to pursue criminal charges against a Houston woman who apparently induced an abortion and then discarded the 5-month-old fetus in a relative's trash can.

Bleeding heavily after delivery, the 29-year-old woman showed up at Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital on Wednesday and told an emergency-room nurse what had happened. The nurse called police, who dispatched officers to recover the fetus, which the woman said she had wrapped in a blanket.

The woman, whose name was not released, told police she had taken unidentified pills on Tuesday to prompt the abortion because she could not afford to care for a child. She lost a substantial amount of blood during the incident and remains hospitalized, though doctors said she was conscious and conversant and is expected to make a full recovery.

The woman first told authorities she had disposed of the fetus at her former residence, the La Casita apartment complex at 313 Sunnyside. Dozens of officers searched the apartment grounds and garbage bin but found nothing. The woman then admitted the fetus was not there and revealed the proper location, the Stafford-area home of family members.

Houston Police Department Sgt. James Racus said the woman's family did not know about the abortion or that she had been pregnant. He said she moved into the home recently and had managed to conceal her condition.

The self-induced abortion was potentially very dangerous.

"You can have an abortion," Racus said, "but performing an abortion on yourself - you can die."

Racus said the woman may be in the country illegally and could be fearful of police, which might explain why she initially misled officerss.

No charges have been filed in the case because it is unknown whether the fetus was alive or viable at the time of birth, Racus said. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences will perform an autopsy in an attempt to determine the extent of fetal development. Doctors at the hospital estimated the woman had been between about 20 and 25 weeks pregnant, Racus said.

The difference between the two numbers is crucial, according to standard fetal viability charts. A baby delivered after less than 22 weeks of gestation has little chance of survival. However, the survival rate goes up to half or higher at 25 weeks.

Reporter Mike Glenn contributed to this report.