Posted on Mar 4, 2009 | by Michael Foust
MIAMI (BP)--A Florida woman was arrested March 3 for her role in a shocking botched abortion case that has garnered national attention, although she was not charged with murder as some were wanting.
Belkis Gonzalez, 43, was charged with tampering with evidence and unlicensed practice of a health-care profession resulting in serious bodily injury for her role in a 2006 abortion at a Hialeah, Fla., abortion clinic she owns. Both are felony charges and could result in up to 15 years in prison.
According to the warrant, Gonzalez took matters into her own hands when then-18-year-old Sycloria Williams -- who was waiting for the doctor to arrive -- delivered a live baby girl in the clinic. With the doctor still not at the clinic, Gonzalez "came into the room, cut the umbilical cord, swept the infant into a trash can with a red bag along with the gauze used during the procedure, and took the bag out of the room," the warrant states. Gonzalez then hid the body for a week until police were able to find it. By then it had begun decomposing, the warrant states.
MIAMI (BP)--A Florida woman was arrested March 3 for her role in a shocking botched abortion case that has garnered national attention, although she was not charged with murder as some were wanting.
Belkis Gonzalez, 43, was charged with tampering with evidence and unlicensed practice of a health-care profession resulting in serious bodily injury for her role in a 2006 abortion at a Hialeah, Fla., abortion clinic she owns. Both are felony charges and could result in up to 15 years in prison.
According to the warrant, Gonzalez took matters into her own hands when then-18-year-old Sycloria Williams -- who was waiting for the doctor to arrive -- delivered a live baby girl in the clinic. With the doctor still not at the clinic, Gonzalez "came into the room, cut the umbilical cord, swept the infant into a trash can with a red bag along with the gauze used during the procedure, and took the bag out of the room," the warrant states. Gonzalez then hid the body for a week until police were able to find it. By then it had begun decomposing, the warrant states.