> At a Glance
> – Melinda Spencer, 35, faces fetal homicide and evidence-tampering counts after allegedly ending her pregnancy with pills bought online.
> – She told staff at a local clinic she took the medication and buried the remains behind her house.
> – Kentucky’s near-total abortion ban allows the charges; an autopsy will determine how far along the pregnancy was.
> – Why it matters: The case spotlights the legal risks women face when ending pregnancies outside the state’s narrow medical exceptions.
Kentucky authorities have filed multiple felony charges against a woman who admits she used mail-order abortion pills and then buried the fetus in her yard, according to state police statements reported by News Of Los Angeles.
The Arrest
Troopers say Spencer walked into a healthcare clinic on Dec. 31 and told employees she had taken abortion medication to end an unwanted pregnancy. Investigators say she later acknowledged ordering the pills online and swallowing them on Dec. 26 because she believed the baby was not her boyfriend’s.
- Fetal homicide in the first degree
- Abuse of a corpse
- Tampering with physical evidence
What Happened Next
According to the arrest narrative, Spencer described the fetus as a “developed male infant,” said the abortion occurred the next day, and stated she wrapped the remains in a rag, placed them in a lightbulb box, and dug a shallow grave in her backyard.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Abortion pill taken | Dec. 26 |
| Expulsion reported | Dec. 27 |
| Clinic visit, arrest | Dec. 31 |
| Autopsy scheduled | Pending |
Spencer is being held at Three Forks Regional Jail while an autopsy determines gestational age. The Commonwealth’s near-total abortion ban-enacted after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade-classifies intentionally ending a pregnancy as a capital offense except when necessary to save the mother’s life.
Key Takeaways
- Kentucky law criminalizes performing or attempting an abortion within state lines.
- Distribution of abortion pills is also prohibited without state certification.
- Spencer’s charges could carry severe penalties if the fetal homicide count proceeds as a capital crime.
The outcome could hinge on the autopsy results and whether prosecutors pursue the case under the state’s fetal-homicide statute.
