On March 20, a young woman named Selena Chandler-Scott, 24, experienced a miscarriage in Tifton, Georgia. Emergency responders treated her after she was found unresponsive and bleeding.
The following day, officers from the Tifton Police Department arrested Chandler-Scott, charging her with concealing the death of a person and abandoning a dead body. Authorities stated she would remain in custody while awaiting a court appearance.
However, on April 4, Tift County District Attorney Patrick Warren announced that the charges against her had been dropped. He explained this decision came after reviewing the police investigation and the autopsy report. Warren emphasized that continued prosecution would not stand legally and would not serve justice, stating, “This case is heartbreaking for everyone, but our decision must be based on law, not emotions.”
Warren acknowledged that although law enforcement acted with good intentions during a challenging situation, it became clear that no laws had been violated in this case. He noted that to pursue charges, the law requires that for a fetus to be considered a victim, it must have been “born and existed separate and independent” from its mother. The medical examiner confirmed that Chandler-Scott had a natural miscarriage, which meant this condition was not met.
Investigations began as Chandler-Scott was 19 weeks into her pregnancy at the time of the miscarriage. Reports indicated that during the emergency response, a witness claimed Chandler-Scott placed the fetus in a bag and discarded it in a dumpster.
Although the case is currently closed, Warren mentioned that it could be reopened if new evidence arises. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe campaign set up to assist Chandler-Scott with her legal expenses has raised over $23,000.
