By Dave Andrusko
To their eternal credit, police are treating the discovery of the body of a “late-term fetus” in a pond in Leesburg Virginia, “with the utmost seriousness and sensitivity.”
“This is a deeply tragic situation,” said Leesburg Police Chief Thea Pirnat in a statement. “We urge anyone with information to come forward, not just for the sake of the investigation, but also to ensure that those in need are provided appropriate medical attention and services.”
The baby was discovered by a community member, according to police. “Emergency services responded promptly, and the area was secured for further investigation. The fetus was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia, for an autopsy,” Jack Moore reported for radio station WTOP.
No further details would be provided at this time “because of the ongoing investigation.”
All the stories on the discovery reminded readers that Virginia has “Safe Haven” laws. This “allow a parent to safely surrender an unharmed infant who is 30 days or younger at a specific location, including hospitals and some fire stations.”
Television station WUSA explained that those locations are:
1. A hospital that provides 24-hour emergency services
2. An attended Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agency that employs emergency medical personnel, such as some fire stations or rescue squads
3. A newborn safety device located at and operated by such hospital or emergency medical services agency.