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Munu

(221 posts)
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 04:12 PM Jan 2026

And so it begins (actual prosecution of a woman for abortion in Kentucky)

Woman charged with fetal homicide after abortion, KSP says (WKYT News)

WOLFE COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) - A Kentucky woman has been charged with fetal homicide after police say she told a clinic she aborted her pregnancy at home and buried the infant on her property.

Kentucky State Police arrested 35-year-old Melinda S. Spencer, of Campton, on charges of fetal homicide in the first degree, abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence.

The investigation began Wednesday around 2:30 p.m. when Kentucky State Police Post 8 was contacted by a clinic in Campton. Clinic staff reported a woman had disclosed that she aborted her pregnancy at her residence on Flat Mary Road, according to police.

Troopers and detectives interviewed Spencer at the clinic. Police said Spencer told detectives she had ordered medication online to complete an abortion. Spencer took the medication, which resulted in the death of a developed male infant, police said.

...

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And so it begins (actual prosecution of a woman for abortion in Kentucky) (Original Post) Munu Jan 2026 OP
The only offense I can see is her burying her aborted fetus on her property, MarineCombatEngineer Jan 2026 #1
The primary reason they seem to want every fetus Bettie Jan 2026 #8
The Republican Party is a cancer BOSSHOG Jan 2026 #26
I sure do like the way you worded that (regarding those who live to punish). calimary Jan 2026 #30
But it's legal in many states to bury a dead person on your own property. erronis Jan 2026 #14
Kentucky requires a permit rpannier Jan 2026 #18
she should have kept her mouth shut. rampartd Jan 2026 #2
she may have needed to go to the clinic for a follow up lapfog_1 Jan 2026 #27
Can Beshear pardon her? EnergizedLib Jan 2026 #3
State charges? MarineCombatEngineer Jan 2026 #5
"fetal homocide" is a term they'll kick around a bit bucolic_frolic Jan 2026 #4
Maybe it's a person like a corporation? Munu Jan 2026 #6
So the CEOs and board should be executed Blue Full Moon Jan 2026 #10
I have wondered how you can kill someone who was never born. Americanme Jan 2026 #9
It should be easy to prove they're not a person bucolic_frolic Jan 2026 #16
And they can't be claimed as a dependent on a tax return. nt JustABozoOnThisBus Jan 2026 #21
I'm guess HIPPA laws didn't protect her from the Ninga Jan 2026 #7
I wonder how developed? Tree Lady Jan 2026 #11
Let's assume a lot . . . AverageOldGuy Jan 2026 #12
. . . corruption and inescapable darkness prevail AverageOldGuy Jan 2026 #13
Which has a democratic governor with pardon power. Right? SSJVegeta Jan 2026 #20
Lesson here is NEVER tell the truth to a doctor when it comes to a pregnancy issue perdita9 Jan 2026 #15
'Developed male infant' terminology can be misleading Joinfortmill Jan 2026 #17
And Beshear is not pardoning her? SSJVegeta Jan 2026 #19
she was just charged moonshinegnomie Jan 2026 #23
Hopefully SSJVegeta Jan 2026 #25
Does anyone even care what the mothers intentions and thoughts were? Seems to be missing from entire conversation. n/t Evolve Dammit Jan 2026 #22
It's pretty clear she was pregnant and didn't want to be pregnant anymore, no? WhiskeyGrinder Jan 2026 #32
Persecution for what was established law. Kid Berwyn Jan 2026 #24
I can see KY pedos now BaronChocula Jan 2026 #28
Republican policy is all about forced labor and delivery, and the accompanying pain dlk Jan 2026 #29
Welcome to DU, Munu! calimary Jan 2026 #31

MarineCombatEngineer

(18,089 posts)
1. The only offense I can see is her burying her aborted fetus on her property,
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 04:18 PM
Jan 2026

and that seems to be a civil offense, not a criminal offense.
I sure as hell hope that the judge dismisses with prejudice the charges or the jury acquits.

These fucking RW religious lunatics are out of control and they're just following Trumpedo and his merry band of criminals.

Bettie

(19,713 posts)
8. The primary reason they seem to want every fetus
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 05:40 PM
Jan 2026

carried to term is so that they can scream at poor people "why did you have children you can't afford" and feel good about the fact that those poor people didn't have a choice at all.

Because the only thing that makes them feel joy is harming someone else in some way.

I may be feeling particularly uncharitable toward the MAGAts today.

BOSSHOG

(44,738 posts)
26. The Republican Party is a cancer
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 06:49 PM
Jan 2026

There is no reason to be charitable to a group of intolerant, ignorant trash Bettie

calimary

(90,100 posts)
30. I sure do like the way you worded that (regarding those who live to punish).
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 07:06 PM
Jan 2026

“…Because the only thing that makes them feel joy is harming someone else in some way.”

That’s the best and most accurate description I’ve seen yet!

rampartd

(4,647 posts)
2. she should have kept her mouth shut.
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 04:19 PM
Jan 2026

the right to lifers are the most violent and aggressive of all maga.

what is the over/under on abortions paid for by trump?

lapfog_1

(31,907 posts)
27. she may have needed to go to the clinic for a follow up
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 06:57 PM
Jan 2026

exam and possibly further treatment... and even if she didn't disclose the pregnancy and termination, they would find out very quickly in the examination.

bucolic_frolic

(55,209 posts)
4. "fetal homocide" is a term they'll kick around a bit
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 05:05 PM
Jan 2026

How does murder of a non-person take place?

bucolic_frolic

(55,209 posts)
16. It should be easy to prove they're not a person
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 05:54 PM
Jan 2026

Their civil rights are non-starters. They cannot make noise to demonstrate their preferences, they cannot fire a gun (big one there), they cannot be arrest for crimes because they cannot commit crimes, they cannot assemble with their peers.

Ninga

(9,012 posts)
7. I'm guess HIPPA laws didn't protect her from the
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 05:19 PM
Jan 2026

Clinic reporting her. The Clinic should have a 24 hr protest. I will donate to her defense fund.

Tree Lady

(13,290 posts)
11. I wonder how developed?
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 05:45 PM
Jan 2026

Aren’t those pills for earlier stages of pregnancy?

We need to get more info out from blue states to help women travel if needed.

And I don’t blame her for burying the evidence of abortion, it’s murder in her state. She must have thought she could trust the clinic not to talk but I bet state law requires them to tell.

AverageOldGuy

(3,883 posts)
12. Let's assume a lot . . .
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 05:47 PM
Jan 2026

Let's assume:
-- she will be charged with murder, manslaughter, or the like
-- she will have a jury trial
-- 2-3 people on the jury think it's none of anyone's business and find her NOT GUILTY

I'm assuming a lot, after all, as the old detective said to Jack Nicholson's character at the end of the movie "Chinatown:"

"Forget it Jake -- it's Kentucky."

AverageOldGuy

(3,883 posts)
13. . . . corruption and inescapable darkness prevail
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 05:49 PM
Jan 2026

Chinatown (1974) is famous for its bleak dialogue, especially the iconic final line, "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown," spoken by Joe Mantell's character to Jack Gittes (Jack Nicholson), signifying that corruption and inescapable darkness prevail.

perdita9

(1,352 posts)
15. Lesson here is NEVER tell the truth to a doctor when it comes to a pregnancy issue
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 05:52 PM
Jan 2026

Which is something the medical community has always worried about. They want their patients to tell them the truth but women are going to have to start lying if they want to stay out of jail.

moonshinegnomie

(4,024 posts)
23. she was just charged
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 06:33 PM
Jan 2026

im sure he will pardon her either if shes convicted or before she even goes on trial

Evolve Dammit

(21,781 posts)
22. Does anyone even care what the mothers intentions and thoughts were? Seems to be missing from entire conversation. n/t
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 06:24 PM
Jan 2026

Kid Berwyn

(24,438 posts)
24. Persecution for what was established law.
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 06:36 PM
Jan 2026

Thank you for a most important post, Munu. And a hearty welcome to DU!


dlk

(13,257 posts)
29. Republican policy is all about forced labor and delivery, and the accompanying pain
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 07:05 PM
Jan 2026

They couldn’t care less about the welfare of women and children, as evidenced by Republicans ripping away their food assistance and healthcare, because poor billionaires, and profitable corporations need even more money in their pockets

They are all the absolute worst kind of sadists.

calimary

(90,100 posts)
31. Welcome to DU, Munu!
Fri Jan 2, 2026, 07:10 PM
Jan 2026

Too many people out there still want to regard women as second-class citizens with few rights, or as individuals with no rights at all.

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