Nationwide — Jocelyn Byrum, a 20-year-old African American woman from South Carolina, now faces serious charges after police said she tried to end her pregnancy without medical help. Investigators said she took medication to induce labor and did not seek assistance after giving birth.
According to WLBT, officers responded to a call for medical assistance on November 12. The caller said Byrum had suffered a miscarriage, but officers later discovered the circumstances were different. When they arrived, she told police she had taken medication intended to terminate the pregnancy.
Investigators determined she was around 27 weeks pregnant. They said she knew she was far along and still decided to take the medicine because she did not want to continue the pregnancy. Police also stated that she did not call emergency services or provide aid to the newborn after delivery.
The infant was taken to a hospital, where doctors listed the baby in critical condition. Medical staff continued to monitor the newborn while the investigation moved forward.
South Carolina law bans most abortions after cardiac activity is detected, which typically occurs around six weeks. The state allows limited exceptions, including cases of rape or incest up to 12 weeks, fatal fetal anomalies, or threats to the mother’s life.
Police arrested Byrum and charged her with attempted murder and unlawful neglect of a child. She appeared before a judge the following day and was denied bond.