Mother Forced Girl To Drink Turpentine To Induce Abortion

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Columbus sex crimes detectives arrested three women Friday evening for allegedly forcing a pregnant teen to drink turpentine to induce an abortion, said Sgt. Debra Bohannon.

The 16-year-old girl's mother, 44-year-old Rozelletta B. Blackshire of South Andrews Circle, was charged with criminal abortion and first-degree cruelty to children, said Bohannon.

The teen's cousins, Shonda Y. Blackshire, 26, of Farr Road and Monica M. Johnson, 28, of East Union Street, Eufaula, Ala., also were arrested and charged with criminal abortion.

The girl is three months pregnant. Investigators haven't determined whether the turpentine has had any toxic effects on the mother-to-be or her unborn child.

"There's no medical evidence that would support you could induce an abortion by giving her turpentine," Bohannon said. "Still, it's not made to ingest. It's not good to ingest."

Bohannon said the girl's mother and cousins twice forced her to drink turpentine between Sept. 12 and Sept. 20.

Police were called to investigate after the girl told her school counselor that her mother made her drink turpentine. Bohannon said her unit was handed the case because they already were in the process of investigating a sexual assault case involving the pregnant teen.

Investigators believe the girl conceived during that assault. Bohannon said there probably will be a charge involving the sexual assault.

The girl's mother and cousins might have wanted her to have an abortion because her pregnancy could have exacerbated an unrelated health problem, Bohannon said. The victim is in protective custody, she said.

The accused were given a $1,500 bond for each charge against them in a Recorder's Court hearing Saturday morning. They forfeited their bonds, however, and did not appear at that hearing, according to court documents.

If convicted of the charges, the women could serve up to 10 years in prison.

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/15607667.htm