Infant's Death Follows Threat

The Commercial Appeal, Memphis ^ | February 25, 2004 | Chris Conley

[MainFrame65]

The threat of a gun set off a chain of events that led to the death of a soon-to-be-born infant and murder charges against the alleged robber, police said Tuesday.

Rhonda Jordan, 22, was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder in perpetration of an aggravated robbery.

Her attempt to rob the infant's mother led to the death the next day of the nearly full-term infant, police said.

Police say Jordan accosted the child's mother, Christian Harris, 20, with a handgun last Wednesday at Alcy and Elvis Presley Boulevard in Memphis, claiming Harris owed her $1,000.

Harris and another woman with her saw the gun and ran, the charges state. Harris fell onto a tree stump and injured her midsection.

She was taken to Methodist Healthcare-University Hospital in extreme pain, the charges state.

Earlier that day, Jordan stopped a car owned by Harris and occupied by two friends on Elvis Presley Boulevard, the charges say.

Jordan allegedly tapped on the window of the car with a handgun and demanded they hand over the vehicle, stating Harris owed her $1,000.

When police were called, Jordan and a male companion allegedly sped off in a burgundy Dodge Intrepid.

On Thursday, Harris gave birth to a girl, who weighed 7 pounds 1 ounce. The infant died soon after being born by cesarean section.

The Medical Examiner's Office determined the infant's death was a homicide bought on by blunt trauma to the mother's uterus.

Such deaths may be prosecuted as homicides if a physician determines the infant would have lived except for the injuries, according to M. Carter Myers, a state prosecutor in the District Attorney General's Office in Memphis. Myers oversees the grand jury section.

Jordan, who denied the allegations when questioned by detectives, is scheduled for arraignment this morning.

Police said further charges may be forthcoming.

- Chris Conley: 901-529-2595

Copyright 2004, commercialappeal.com - Memphis, TN. All Rights Reserved.

[MainFrame65]

I believe this is a positive development.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Well, except to the victims.

[MainFrame65]

My bad, my omission. You are correct, of course. The mother suffered both injury and loss, and her child had no chance to live. I should have noted that. But I believe that the murder charge IS life affirming in the way that it assigns humanity and value to the unborn but ready child, and assigns blame for taking that life.

[Blood of Tyrants]

I understood that. You just needed to clarify that for lurkers.