Mother is charged in stillborn son's death

The Salt Lake Tribune ^ | 3/12/04 | Pamela Manson

[GeronL]

Bad reporting.

Melissa Ann Rowland, 28, had refused medical treatment, saying she would rather die than go to either of the two recommended hospitals, and that being cut "from breast bone to pubic bone" would ruin her life, the county District Attorney's Office alleges in a probable-cause statement filed in 3rd District Court.

The woman says she never said it, this reporter should be taken out and flogged. The woman said she had already had 2 c-sections and another wasn't going to add scars. She totally disputes the assertions.

But the reporter had stated it as a fact.

[ECM]

"What we're trying to send is the message that someone has to stand up for a child who could have been alive," he said.

I don't even know where to begin...

[GeronL]

As long as abortion is legal, she didn't do anything illegal.

She is still a moron though.

[CindyDawg]

Sounds like she is mentally ill. Since CPS couldn't intervene they should have called in adult protective services and appointed a guardian for her that could have make health decisions.

[Cicero]

This is a sad business, but bringing a murder charge makes very little sense.

[armyboy]

"What we're trying to send is the message that someone has to stand up for a child who could have been alive," he said.
if the woman wants an abortion, it's a lump of tissue. In this case it's a child? talk about hypocrisy

[glock rocks]

As long as abortion is legal, she didn't do anything illegal.

Actually, the Utah Supreme Court upheld a decision in January stating in effect that causing the death of a fetus by means other than abortion is homicide. The legislative intention I presume, was to go after junkie moms, but this case apparently falls under the umbrella according to the DA. Or something. This is just too odd.

[glock rocks]

Melissa Rowland

[SICSEMPERTYRANNUS]

Ahhhh myyyy eyeeeeeeesssssssss! It burns.

[Paleo Conservative]

This case is very scary. I'm appalled that any state could indict anyone for refusing to undergo a surgical procedure. I really can't support the notion that the government has the right to tell me I must let someone operate on my body.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

This woman has a husband, a boyfriend, 4 children, one of which is dead. She also has the ability to find coke, smokes and booze.

[Feiny]

Yeah, those genes really need to be passed along....

[elli1]

That picture really does tell it all. The Salt Lake County prosecutors are even crazier than this woman. Hell, she won't even need to enter her medical mental history into evidence. One look at her tells the whole story.

[CajunConservative]

I wouldn't say it's bad reporting. If you have ever had any experience with the severly mentally ill, which from the sounds of things this woman is and is probably mildly mentally retarded, when they don't get their way they will say and do anything. You can not reason with them because they don't have the ability. They are concrete thinkers.

It sounds like from the article she was receiving SSI benefits and housing, you don't just get SSI, it's a long drawn out process.

[CajunConservative]

This woman has a husband, a boyfriend, 4 children, one of which is dead. She also has the ability to find coke, smokes and booze.

All on the state's dime too. She was on disability.

[shetlan]

An obese, mentally ill, woman refusing to "being cut from breast to pubic bone" during a difficult pregnancy is in jail only two days after giving birth!?

This is so incredibly callous. Where are her "caregivers."?

[GeronL]

See #12.

I think she might have a case with 'mentally ill'.

[TheDon]

Too bad the doctor didn't force the c section on the woman. Probably would have been a good idea to tie her tubes while at it.

[GeronL]

OUCH...ouch