Kentucky woman arrested on fetal homicide charges after ordering abortion medication online
Melinda S Spencer, 35, was arrested by Kentucky state police on charges of fetal homicide in the first degree, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with physical evidence. She reportedly ordered abortion medication online and buried the fetal remains in her backyard. Spencer was booked into a jail in Beattyville, Kentucky, and remained in custody as of January 2, 2026. Police described the fetus as developed, though the gestational age was not disclosed. Kentucky law bans doctors from performing abortions after conception but does not prohibit self-managed abortions by individuals. Following the reversal of Roe v. Wade, online access to abortion pills increased significantly; by the end of 2024, about one-quarter of abortions involved an online consultation and mailed pills, according to WeCount. In the two years after Roe was overturned, 412 people faced prosecution for pregnancy-related crimes, including 16 homicide prosecutions and 7 cases involving improper conduct related to birth or death, though only 9 cases involved abortion-related charges. Healthcare workers often trigger police involvement in these cases, with 264 of the 412 prosecutions based on information disclosed in medical settings.
