Murder: The Leading Cause of Death for Pregnant Women

NOW website ^ | April 23, 2003 | Kim Curtis, Associated Press Writer

[LifeOrGoods?]

SAN FRANCISCO—The death of Laci Peterson, as well as the unsolved murder of another pregnant woman whose torso washed up in San Francisco Bay, points to a disturbing phenomenon well known to police, health advocates and experts on battered women: the leading cause of death for pregnant women is homicide.

"People think that pregnancy is a joyful, happy time for families. That's not always true," said Phyllis Sharps, an associate professor at The Johns Hopkins University's school of nursing who researches violence against women.

In some cases, the woman has been abused for years, and the violence escalates to murder after she's pregnant. In others, pregnancy itself sparks emotions that can lead to murderous rages.

"Violence in intimate relationships is all about power," said Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women. "There are fewer times when you can have power over a woman than when she's pregnant. She's vulnerable. It's an easier time to threaten her."

Friends and family say they saw no signs of strain or abuse in the relationship between Scott and Laci Peterson of Modesto. Peterson pleaded innocent Monday to killing his wife and their unborn son, whose bodies washed up last week not far from the spot where he said he was fishing on Christmas Eve, the day Laci disappeared.

In San Francisco, 24-year-old Evelyn Hernandez was a week away from delivering a second son when she disappeared last May with her 5-year-old boy. Her torso—clad in maternity clothes—was found in the bay three months later. Her son remains missing. The married man she was dating has cooperated with police, and no arrests have been made.

Among all murders of women across the country in 2000—the most recent yearly statistics available from the U.S. Department of Justice—more than 33 percent were killed by...

[LifeOrGoods?]

The result of two things among others. The slippery slope of the moral acceptance of abortion. And, the failure to put murders to death.

Notice the source of this article. Ironic.

[Semper Paratus]

Also the leading cause of death for fetuses.

[Sam the Sham]

Remember Charles Stuart in Boston ?

[Truth'sBabyGirl]

This article is interesting, but it's more than 2 years old. Any particular reason you're posting it now?
:) TBG

[goldstategop]

What's funny is Kim Gandy being alarmed by the murder of pregnant women. This is the same Kim Gandy who thinks abortion is a godsend. Notice she's oblivious to the contradiction in her positions. Then again, its just like feminazis to be ignorant of the irony inherent in their denouncing violence against pregnant women while applauding the legal slaughter of their unborn children.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[Military family member]

Clearly..to take the anti-gun approach to this...we have to outlaw murder...or at least put a three-day wait period.....

[LifeOrGoods?]

Why did I post it. I heard a similar report on an ACLJ commerical and I thought people should know.

Here's newer ones.

http://www.jrrobertssecurity.com/security-news/security-crime-news0043.htm

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/23/earlyshow/main675945.shtml