Abortion is legal in Nevada, but a stillbirth and Facebook post expressing her grief landed her in prison

Key Points:

• Patience Rousseau, a single mother from Nevada, was arrested and convicted of felony manslaughter in 2018 after a stillbirth, based on a vague state law criminalizing attempts to terminate pregnancy, despite abortion being legal in Nevada.
• Rousseau’s conviction was vacated in 2021 due to ineffective legal counsel and lack of evidence proving intent to terminate a viable pregnancy; she later received a $100,000 settlement for wrongful conviction.
• Her case exemplifies a growing trend of criminalizing pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriages and stillbirths, often using outdated laws and disproportionately affecting low-income women, even in states where abortion remains legal.
• The handling of Rousseau’s case included traumatic events such as authorities exhuming her baby’s remains and a former deputy keeping the ashes at home, which Rousseau and her lawyers are now seeking to recover.
• Since her release, Rousseau has rebuilt her life, emphasizing the need for compassion and support for women facing pregnancy challenges, and hopes her story raises awareness about the criminalization and stigma surrounding pregnancy loss.