After her baby’s death during at-home delivery, a California woman faces homicide charges.
Kelsey Carpenter (33) was charged with murder after her baby Kiera died in a homebirth in 2020. The Guardian reported. Ms Carpenter was alone when her water broke 2 weeks before her due date. She tried to give birth to Kiera by cutting the umbilical cord.
She woke up to find that Kiera wasn’t breathing when she woke up and called 911. San Diego prosecutors are building a case against her mother of three, who was deprived of custody of her two other children as a result of drug abuse in the past.
After she regained custody of her youngest child, and became pregnant with Kiera, Carpenter sought treatment at a facility. She was given buprenorphine to treat withdrawal symptoms. An autopsy determined that Kiera’s death was an accident “associated with methamphetamine and buprenorphine exposure and unattended delivery.”
Experts hired by Ms Carpenter’s defence argue that Kiera died as a result of blood loss before or after birth. Her lawyers also cited a bill from the state that exempts people who made decisions during pregnancy from prosecution if they are stillborn, miscarriage, abortion or similar.
After being briefly treated in a hospital, Ms Carpenter was taken into question by police following the tragedy. Carpenter was arrested for murder in March 2021 and released on bail.
In January, she was taken again into custody after failing to appear at court.
“I am still stunned and horrified that a person could have the biggest tragedy of their life and lose a child who was loved and was so wanted, and then be charged with such a horrible crime,” she told The Guardian Over a hundred text messages sent from jail. “I had cherished the idea of this baby and was totally committed to becoming the best mother I knew how to be. I mourn every day for Kiera.”
Ms Carpenter’s mother, who has custody of Ms Carpenter’s eldest child, says that prosecutors and media outlets inaccurately portrayed her daughter’s story, prompting a wave of harassment and threats.
“I was fearful for her safety, and all of this was happening while she was trying to mourn Kiera,” Shande Carpenter told The Guardian.
Ms Carpenter said that she had done extensive research and preparations for the home delivery. After losing custody of her two children, Carpenter said she decided to have an at-home delivery after they were both found drugged at the hospital.
“I did not want to risk losing my third child to the system,” Ms Carpenter said. “I love my babies and hoped to provide a sibling to them. I had imagined my sons being her big brothers and protecting her and showing her love.”
Meanwhile, prosecutors have argued that Ms Carpenter’s alleged delay to phone first responders and her decision to cut the umbilical cord led to Kiera’s death, despite no medical evidence.
The District Attorney’s office told The Guardian in a statement: “Carpenter is not being prosecuted for her decision to have a home birth or substance use. This case is not about abortion, stillbirth, or any other type of pregnancy outcome. This is a case about a newborn baby who died as a direct result of a parent’s acts and omissions after the baby’s live birth.”
