Germantown, MD – The identity of the woman who died Thursday from complications to a 33-week abortion done by LeRoy Carhart has been reported by pro-life blogger Jill Stanek at www.JillStanek.com.
That woman was Jennifer Leigh Morbelli, 29, a kindergarten teacher from White Plains, New York. The Morbelli’s had been expecting a daughter, Madison Leigh. The mother and daughter will be interred together in New York on Wednesday.
Operation Rescue extends heart-felt condolences and prayers to her family and friends in their time of bereavement.
Investigations into Mrs. Morbelli’s death are underway by the police and Medical Examiner’s office.
“Jennifer was a beautiful woman was loved and cherished by many, whose future appeared bright. Her passing is an unspeakable tragedy,” said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue and Pro-Life Nation. “We are dedicated to working through the legal system to ensure that no more women will suffer Jennifer’s fate.”
Operation Rescue had already discovered the woman’s identity prior to its publication, but refrained from immediately releasing it out of sensitivity for the family.
Mrs. Morbelli died at Shady Grove Hospital on Thursday. While the Medical Examiner has yet to officially determine the cause of death, it is believed she died from massive internal bleeding as the result of a third trimester abortion she received at Germantown Reproductive Health Services, where Carhart works.
Efforts by family and hospital staff to reach Carhart when Mrs. Morbelli’s condition worsened were unsuccessful and may have contributed to her death.
“This is a case of not only shoddy practices, but patient abandonment that we believe rises to the level of criminal conduct,” said Newman. “We will press for criminal charges in this case, in addition to Board discipline.”
In 2005, another Carhart patient, 19-year old Christin Gilbert, also died from the risky late-term abortion procedure employed by Carhart and other third trimester abortionists across the nation. Operation Rescue has documented nearly a dozen additional serious complications over the past three years related to this same procedure, raising serious questions about its safety.
“We urge the immediate passage of laws at the state level banning late-term abortions in order to protect other women and their viable babies from unnecessary injury and death,” said Newman.
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