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05/18/2007 07:16:48 EST

Baby Found in Freezer; Pa. Woman Charged

By JOE MANDAK
Associated Press Writer

PITTSBURGH - A woman was charged with abuse of a corpse after police found the remains of a baby in her freezer.

Police charged Christine Hutchinson, 22, of Pittsburgh, after interviewing her Thursday evening, several hours after the remains were found in her apartment.

Officers got a tip from someone who knew Hutchinson that there was "possibly a baby that was dead and was in a freezer in an apartment in Bloomfield," a working-class neighborhood several miles east of downtown, Pittsburgh police Cmdr. Thomas Stangrecki said.

Detectives found what initially appeared to be a late-term fetus in a brown bag in the freezer, police said, though it wasn't immediately clear whether the remains resulted from a miscarriage, late-term abortion or a death shortly after birth.

But later, Lt. Daniel Herrmann said the abuse of a corpse charge applies only to human beings. Under the law, he said, a fetus is not considered a human being.
An autopsy was scheduled for Friday. Police said that they did not believe the death was recent but gave no further details.

Police also questioned the woman's ex-boyfriend but said they do not believe he was the father. He was not charged.

Hutchinson was in custody awaiting arraignment late Thursday. A criminal complaint and police affidavit were not immediately released.

It was not immediately known whether Hutchinson had an attorney.

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Date: 2007-05-18 03:57 pm (UTC)
ext_135265: (Missing Some Details)
From: [identity profile] snapples-apples.livejournal.com
I did a quick google search 'cause...yeah that's a horrible story. The mother in question was apparently only 22 years old, and they don't know how long the baby was in there. Sadly, while unusual, it's not all that uncommon.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/south_yorkshire/4071050.stm
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/24/1064083062639.html?from=storyrhs
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Law/2006/10/25/2125083-sun.html

Date: 2007-05-18 04:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] silverthorne.livejournal.com
Yeah, I know. That's the other reason I'm squicked. It happens far too often these days.

I was not in her situation (or any of theirs), but I did get pregnant when I was 22 as well. It ended with everyone, from the guy I'd had sex with, to both my parents, giving me no option but abortion--something I, under no circumstances, wanted to do.

Unfortunately, due to a lot of circumstances (which I'm not going to go into, but included financial and lcck-of-support-from-anyone reasons), I wound up getting one third-fourth month in, courtesy of my parents. So yeah, I understand the not wanting to let go part--god knows I screamed in protest for most of the procedure even though I was on valium and not feeling any pain. It's the 'solution' to the situation that gets me.

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