Abortion Worker Arrested, Jailed in Death of Baby Born Alive During Botched Abortion
by Staff
March 9, 2009
MIAMI, (christiansunite.com) -- Unlicensed abortion worker Belkis Gonzalez was arrested today and jailed on two felony counts related to the death of a baby born alive during a botched abortion in Hialeah, Florida, in 2006. According to the arrest warrant obtained by Operation Rescue, Gonzalez was charged with the unlicensed practice of a health care profession resulting in serious bodily injury, a second degree felony, and with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, a third degree felony. She faces a minimum penalty of a fine of $1,000 and a minimum mandatory period of incarceration of one year.As of this writing, Gonzalez is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami on a $50,000 bond.
"These charges are not exactly what we were hoping for, but we are thankful that Ms. Gonzalez will be finally held accountable for her part in the death of Shanice Osbourne," said Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition. Rev. Mahoney held a press conference in Miami on February 20, asking State Attorney Katherine Rundle for a criminal prosecution.
"For two and a half years we have worked to expose Gonzalez's actions that resulted in the death of Baby Shanice and bring her to justice. Today, we are gratified that Ms. Gonzalez is finally behind bars where she belongs," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "This victory belongs to all who called and wrote asking for justice to be done. There is little doubt this would have been swept under the rug and forgotten if not for the public pressure that was brought to bear."
Gonzalez was working at a Hialeah abortion mill when a 19 year old girl came in to complete an abortion that was started the previous day. Abortionist Pierre Renelique failed to show up for the abortion appointment, and the baby girl was born alive. Gonzalez then cut the baby's umbilical cord, shoved her in a trash bag, then hid her body on the abortion clinic roof.
Renelique's medical license was revoked last month because of his negligence in this case. A civil suit is also pending against Renelique, Gonzalez and others responsible for Shanice Osbourne's death. The abortion clinic where she died is closed.
About Operation Rescue®
Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation. Operation Rescue recently made headlines when it bought and closed an abortion clinic in Wichita, Kansas and has become the voice of the pro-life activist movement in America. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to restore legal personhood to the pre-born and stop abortion in obedience to biblical mandates.
