Kentucky woman, 35, charged with homicide after using abortion pills then burying fetus in backyard

A Kentucky woman was charged with fetal homicide after allegedly using abortion pills and burying the fetus in a Christmas-wrapped lightbulb box in her backyard — when she got pregnant following an affair.Melinda Spencer, 35, was arrested Wednesday after going to a Campton health care clinic, where she told staff members she used medication purchased online to end her pregnancy, which is illegal in the state, according to Kentucky State Police, FOX 56 reported.Police said Spencer allegedly admitted to taking the pills on Dec.

26 and burying the fetus — described as a “developed male infant” — two days later in a shallow grave at her Flat Mary Road home.After obtaining a search warrant, cops found the remains wrapped in a white rag and stuffed in the holiday-decorated box inside a plastic bag, court documents showed.Spencer later confessed that she allegedly ordered the pregnancy-ending drugs after conceiving with a man who was not her boyfriend, claiming she didn’t want him to find out, police said, per the outlet.

Authorities said she wanted to “abort the fetus on her own.”It’s unclear how long she was pregnant before taking the pills.An autopsy has reportedly been scheduled to establish how developed the fetus was.

In Kentucky, nearly all abortions are illegal, with a doctor only authorized to perform one to prevent death or serious injury to the mother.There are no exceptions for rape or incest.

State law also bars the distribution of abortion medication.Spencer was charged with first-degree fetal homicide, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and first-degree promoting contraband, the outlet reported.The homicide offense makes her eligible for the death penalty.

She also faces life behind bars if convicted.Spencer is being held at Three Forks Regional Jail in Beattyville....