TRIGGER WARNING: This post contains information about stillbirth and infant loss, which may be triggering to some.
Police in Flint, Michigan, have arrested a 26-year-old woman after getting a call about a deceased fetus being found in the middle of a sidewalk. Although few details about the case have been released to the public, many members of the Flint community have responded with both shock and empathy.
The incident occurred in the late-night hours of April 18, and the woman who had been pregnant with the baby was located and arrested the following day, according to a statement released by the Flint Police Department.
The deceased fetus was found about 11 p.m.
According to the police statement posted on both Twitter and Facebook, Flint police responded to a call placed by a passerby reporting a deceased male fetus found lying on the sidewalk on South Dart Highway around 11 p.m. April 18.
The body was taken to the medical examiner's office.
Police report that there were no signs of life when they arrived. The fetus' body was taken to the medical examiner's office, where it was determined to be between 20 and 23 weeks' gestation, which is several weeks before viability.
According to the National Library of Medicine, the age of viability in the US is presently considered to be 24 weeks, though mortality rates are still quite high in the weeks after that.
The woman who had been pregnant was later arrested.
Police have confirmed that the woman who had been pregnant was identified and arrested on April 19 after being treated at a hospital. Information on what charges she may be facing, however, is not available at this time. She was being held in Genesee County Jail while the prosecutor's office reviews potential charges.
The community is disturbed by what happened, but many people have expressed empathy.
Many Flint residents have responded to the incident on the Flint Police Department Facebook page. Although people are understandably upset by the discovery, many have expressed confusion about the circumstances and what potential charges the woman could face and have left comments of empathy.
"I'm confused on why people aren't upset that she left a baby just laying around? Rather it was a miscarriage or abortion or birth.. that little boy is still a person. Never should that little guy have to be placed just anywhere… I've never lost baby before but I know I'd still love him/her if I did ❤️" one person commented.
"Geeze sure she should have went to the hospital but I do believe that's a miscarriage. Why arrest her? I don't think any of us have enough information to judge. Rip ," someone else wrote.
"Prayers for healing to the person who found this poor child and the woman involved. I cannot imagine the circumstances," another comment reads.
Someone else wrote, "The fetus was not viable at that age. No one here knows the circumstances or facts about this case. Don't judge. Pray."
