A Georgia prosecutor dismissed murder charges Wednesday against a 23-year-old woman accused of inducing an abortion by taking pills in a case that baffled even abortion opponents.
Dougherty County District Attorney Greg Edwards issued a statement saying he had dismissed a malice murder charge against 23-year-old Kenlissia Jones, who spent about three days in jail before she was released. But, Edwards said, Jones still faces a misdemeanor charge of possession of a dangerous drug.
Abortion-rights advocates and opponents of abortion alike had said they were stunned by the murder charge. Georgia has prohibited the prosecution of women for feticide or for performing illegal abortions in cases involving their own pregnancies. After reviewing the law, Edwards said he reached the same conclusion.
"Georgia law presently does not permit prosecution of Ms. Jones for any alleged acts related to the end of her pregnancy," the prosecutor's statement said. He planned a news conference later Wednesday afternoon.
Jones was arrested Saturday after a county social services worker called police to a hospital, according to an Albany police report.
Read Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.