Camden County, United States. A 31-year-old Georgia woman has been charged with murder after taking abortion medication and giving birth to a premature infant who died within hours, according to court documents and arrest records. Alexia Moore was arrested earlier this month in coastal Camden County, near the Florida border, over an episode on Dec. 30.
Arrest and allegations
Moore was arrested, charged and jailed by local police in connection with the Dec. 30 incident, according to court documents and arrest records.
Medical visit and birth
Moore took the abortion medication misoprostol at home and was later rushed to the Southeast Georgia Health System Camden Campus on Dec. 30 after experiencing severe pain, according to a police report. She informed staff that she was pregnant and said she had taken 200 mg of misoprostol before arriving at the emergency room.
A friend later told police that Moore took the abortion pill because she did not want another child. Moore already has two young children, the report said.
While at the health center, Moore gave birth to a premature girl whom police described as having “major health issues.” Police also said Moore took illegal oxycodone, an opioid.
The newborn survived about an hour, according to police.
Gestational age
The police report did not indicate the weeks of gestation, but The Washington Post reported Moore was between 22 and 24 weeks pregnant.
Legal context and next steps
Nearly all abortions in Georgia are illegal after six weeks of pregnancy. Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, many states have adopted abortion bans.
While other states have sought to prosecute women who had abortions, it is rare for women to be charged with murder in such cases, and it will be up to state prosecutors to decide whether to move forward, according to the report.
Responses
A lawyer for Moore could not immediately be reached for comment.
Dana Sussman, senior vice president at the advocacy group Pregnancy Justice, said the Georgia case has no basis in the law and should be met with a vigorous defense on several grounds.
What do you think this case could mean for how abortion-related prosecutions are handled in Georgia?