Jessica Burgess, a Nebraska resident, was sentenced to two years in jail for assisting her teenage daughter in obtaining abortion drugs. This event follows the filing of charges against both of them for their joint efforts to terminate Celeste Burgess’ pregnancy.
Burgess ordered abortion pills online and gave them to her 17-year-old daughter, who was in her third trimester at the time, according to the New York Times. These allegations were confirmed by prosecutors. It was also alleged that the mother-daughter duo later buried the foetal remains.
The inquiry into this case began in April 2022, when it was discovered that Celeste Burgess had given birth prematurely to a stillborn child, who had been buried. Celeste was sentenced to 90 days in prison in July after pleading guilty to removing or concealing human bone remains as a consequence of the inquiry.
Legal proceedings
Jessica Burgess pleaded guilty to a variety of offenses in the same month, including breaching Nebraska’s abortion legislation, providing false information to a law enforcement official, and removing or concealing human skeletal remains.
Celeste Burgess, who had been released earlier, wiped away tears in the courtroom as her mother was sentenced. The judge dismissed a request from Jessica Burgess’ lawyer to sentence her to probation, stating that she had treated the foetal remains with disregard.
Concerns and the legal setting
Jessica Burgess was charged with five counts, including one under a 2010 legislation that limits abortion to 20 weeks after fertilization. Notably, the Burgess family probe began before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022. In August, Facebook’s collaboration with the police probe sparked outcry, fueling fears that the site may be used to target those involved in abortion procedures.
