In a significant development, an Ohio woman, Brittany Watts, will not face criminal charges for the abuse of a corpse after suffering a miscarriage at her home. The Trumbull County prosecutor's office announced on Thursday that a grand jury had returned a "no bill" in the case, indicating that there will be no indictment. The decision came after two days of deliberation and the examination of seven witnesses.

The incident began when Watts, 33 years old and 21 weeks and 5 days pregnant, started experiencing thick blood clots. Concerned, she visited a doctor's office, where she was informed that her water had broken prematurely and the baby would unlikely survive. Over the next three days, Watts made multiple trips to the hospital before ultimately miscarrying into her home toilet.

The situation took a legal turn when police launched an investigation after discovering the remains of the fetus wedged in the pipes. Initially, Watts was charged with abuse of a corpse, a fifth-degree felony that carries a potential sentence of up to a year in prison and a $2,500 fine. The case against her, particularly given her race as a Black woman, ignited a firestorm of controversy surrounding the treatment of pregnant women, especially Black women, following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Watts' attorney, Traci Timko, argued that her client's actions were not uncommon and that there is no law in Ohio requiring the burial or cremation of miscarried remains. Timko also highlighted the delay in medical care that Watts faced, suggesting that hospital officials were grappling with legal concerns surrounding the treatment of unviable pregnancies.

Research has shown that Black women experience higher rates of miscarriage compared to White women. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related issues, attributed to factors such as healthcare quality, underlying health conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias.

The case against Watts has drawn international attention and raised concerns among reproductive rights experts, who view it as a dangerous precedent in a post-Roe America. The decision by the grand jury not to indict Watts has been met with relief and support from women's rights groups. Local organizations have organized a rally in Warren, Ohio, in solidarity with Watts.

This story is still developing, and further updates will be provided as they become available.