Nebraska mom gets 2-year sentence for illegal abortion and corpse disposal.
A Mother’s Shocking Actions: Illegal Abortion and Cover-Up
A Nebraska mother has been sentenced to two years in prison for a horrifying crime that involved giving her teenage daughter an illegal medication abortion and then attempting to dispose of the baby’s remains.
Jessica Burgess, a 42-year-old resident of Norfolk, admitted to tampering with human skeletal remains, false reporting, and providing an abortion after 20 weeks gestation. In a plea agreement, she confessed to her actions.
On September 22, Madison County District Judge Mark Johnson handed down a sentence of one year in prison for each count, with the first two sentences running concurrently. Following that, Burgess will serve an additional year for providing an illegal abortion, resulting in a total of two years behind bars.
The judge, after reviewing online court records, deemed Burgess unsuitable for probation.
Celeste Burgess, Jessica’s daughter, was only 17 years old when they devised a plan to abort her baby at 29 weeks gestation, well into the third trimester.
According to documents from Madison County District Court, Jessica ordered abortion pills online and instructed her daughter on how to take them.
It’s important to note that the Food and Drug Administration has only approved abortion pills for use within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
After the child’s death, the mother and daughter attempted to burn the body before ultimately burying it in a field north of Norfolk.
While Celeste Burgess was released from Madison County Jail earlier this month after serving more than half of her 90-day sentence, her mother now faces a two-year prison term.
Celeste Burgess, now 19, was sentenced in July after pleading guilty to removing, concealing, or abandoning a dead body. As part of her plea deal, charges of false reporting and concealing the death of another person were dropped.
Tanner Barnhill, a third individual involved in the case, was charged with assisting the Burgesses in burying the baby’s remains on his parents’ property.
Mr. Barnhill pleaded no contest to the charge of attempted concealing the death of another person. He received a sentence of nine months of probation and 40 hours of community service.‘We Burn the Evidence’
Court records reveal that police were alerted in April 2022 about Celeste Burgess burying a “stillborn” child the previous week.
During the investigation, Celeste claimed to have given birth to a stillborn baby and stated that she and her mother placed the body in a plastic bag in the back of their van before burying it.
Investigators were led to the burial site, where the corpse was exhumed and found to have signs of “thermal injuries.”
Mr. Barnhill confirmed that the mother and daughter had indeed attempted to burn the body before burying it.
Authorities later discovered that the child’s body had been buried and dug up in two other locations before being moved to the Barnhill property.
Following an inconclusive autopsy, police obtained a warrant to access the Burgess’s Facebook accounts. There, they uncovered messages between the mother and daughter discussing their abortion plans.
In one message, Celeste Burgess expressed her eagerness to remove the ”thing” from her body. In another, she wrote, “Remember we burn the evidence.”
Nebraska has prohibited abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy since 2010. Earlier this year, the state further tightened its restrictions, outlawing the procedure after 12 weeks gestation, except in cases of rape, incest, or medical emergencies.
Although the law has faced legal challenges, its provisions will remain in effect for now after the Nebraska Supreme Court denied a request for a preliminary injunction last week.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
What are the potential risks and consequences of seeking illegal and unsafe abortion practices?
Rning and burying the baby’s remains. He pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and is currently awaiting sentencing.
This disturbing case serves as a reminder of the desperate measures some individuals are willing to take when faced with an unplanned pregnancy. It also highlights the importance of access to safe and legal abortion services.
Abortion laws vary from state to state, and Nebraska has strict regulations in place. The state prohibits abortions after 20 weeks gestation, except in cases where the mother’s life is in danger. This means that Jessica Burgess and her daughter’s actions were in direct violation of the law.
It’s crucial that women have access to accurate information and medical care when making decisions about their pregnancies. Unsafe, illegal abortion practices not only put the lives and health of women at risk but also create a dangerous and unregulated environment.
By seeking to terminate her daughter’s pregnancy through illegal means, Jessica Burgess not only endangered her daughter’s life but also denied her the right to proper medical care and counseling. The emotional and psychological toll of such an experience cannot be understated.
This case also raises important questions about parental responsibility and the need for comprehensive sex education. Open and honest communication about reproductive health and family planning is vital in order to prevent situations like this from occurring.
While the court has handed down its verdict and sentencing in this case, it is crucial that we continue to work towards ensuring access to safe and legal abortion services, as well as comprehensive sex education, to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.
It is our responsibility as a society to support and empower women to make informed decisions about their bodies and their futures. Let us use this case as a sobering reminder of the consequences that can arise when those rights are violated.
As for Jessica Burgess, she will spend the next two years in prison, serving her sentence for the illegal abortion and attempted disposal of her baby’s remains. It is a tragic situation that serves as a stark reminder of the lengths some individuals are willing to go to when faced with an unintended pregnancy. May this case serve as a call to action to prioritize access to safe and legal abortion services, education, and support for women in need.
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