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dontmeantobepoliticalbut · 5 months

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Grand jury declines to indict Ohio woman who miscarried of abusing a corpse | The Washington Post

By Kim Bellware

An Ohio grand jury has declined to indict Brittany Watts, the 34-year-old woman charged with abusing a corpse after experiencing a miscarriage at home in a case that drew national attention to the ways women may be criminalized for their pregnancy outcomes in a post-Dobbs landscape.

The Trumbull County grand jury that had been investigating Watts’s case for a month on Thursday returned what’s known as a “no bill” for felony abuse of a corpse charges; as a result, charges against Watts will be immediately dismissed.

Trumbull County prosecutor Dennis Watkins said through a spokesperson that he plans to address the grand jury’s decision within the next day. Watkins was widely criticized for pursuing the case against Watts and was last month urged by medical and legal professionals to drop the case.

Neither Watts nor her lawyer, Traci Timko, responded to request for comment Thursday.

In a statement, Yveka Pierre, senior counsel at If/When/How, a group of reproductive rights lawyers that provided legal support in Watts’s case, said she was relieved to see the end of a “dehumanizing” case against Watts.

“Brittany should have been able to focus on taking care of herself after her pregnancy loss. She should have been able to process, and grieve with her family and community” Pierre said. “Instead, she was arrested and charged with a felony.”

Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights (OPRR), among the chief professional groups to condemn Watts’s charges, in a statement hailed the grand jury’s decision as a “firm step against the dangerous trend of criminalizing reproductive outcomes.”

Lauren Beene, a doctor and co-founder of OPRR, told The Washington Post Thursday that charging pregnant people like Watts who are in the midst of life-threatening complications and devastating pregnancy losses can have a chilling effect on health care; women may not be able to get the care they need or be afraid to seek out the care they need, leading to negative outcomes like higher maternal mortality.

Watts’s case also drew attention to Ohio’s existing Targeted Restrictions on Abortion Providers (TRAP) laws. Despite Ohio voters last year approving Issue 1, a law enshrining the right to abortion in Ohio’s constitution, there are about 30 TRAP laws on the books that have not been repealed and that interfere with reproductive care, Beene said.

“If people are miscarrying like Watts was and the fetus still has a heartbeat but it’s a nonviable fetus, Issue 1 should protect her,” Beene said. “But without taking down the TRAP laws, like the fetal heartbeat law, health care institutions may be afraid to provide the care and may not understand what they can and can’t do.”

The Post previously reconstructed Watts’s days leading up to her miscarriage, drawing on medical records, call recordings and interviews with Watts and her lawyer.

Watts miscarried at home last September after four days in and out of the hospital where she had been told her nearly 22-week pregnancy was not viable. There was still detectable fetal cardiac activity, which complicated how quickly a decision could be made to induce Watts, despite doctors indicating she was at increasing risk of death. Abortion in Ohio remains legal up to 22 weeks.

At home, Watts delivered a roughly 15-ounce fetus over the toilet. When blood, stool and tissue from the delivery clogged the toilet, Watts removed what she believed was blocking the flow and placed the contents in a bucket outdoors, records show. When she returned to the hospital after her delivery, a nurse who inquired about the fetus later reported Watts to police.

Police eventually removed Watts’s toilet and found the fetus lodged in the pipes. Timko, Watts’s attorney, said her client had no criminal record and was being “demonized for something that goes on every day,” but a municipal judge found there was evidence to bind Watts’s case over for a grand jury investigation.

A coroner’s report later confirmed the fetus died in utero and was not injured by Watts’s actions. Neither prosecutors nor health care workers who treated Watts disputed that her pregnancy loss was natural.

The decision to charge Watts sparked concerns among women’s health advocates and others that the risk of being criminalized for pregnancy outcomes was growing. On Thursday before the grand jury announcement, a rally in support of Watts had been scheduled in the Warren Courthouse Square. A fundraiser for Watts that began in December has raised more than $230,000.

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moviesandmania · 1 year

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THE FINAL ROSE (2022) Reviews of Tubi mystery movie

The Final Rose is a 2022 American murder mystery film about a killer who is targeting contestants on a reality TV show. Directed by Tim Cruz from a screenplay co-written with Blake Rutledge. Produced by Stan Spry and Eric Scott Woods. The Cartel Pictures production stars Christina Masterson, Brytni Sarpy, Robert Palmer Watkins, Roger Howarth, Brittany Underwood, Robert Adamson, Brian McGovern,…

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#Brytni Sarpy #Christina Masterson #murder mystery #review reviews #Robert Palmer Watkins #Roger Howarth #The Final Rose #Tim Cruz #trailer #Tubi Original

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dnaamericaapp · 5 months

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Ohio Woman Who Miscarried At Home Won’t Be Criminally Charged, Grand Jury Says

Brittany Watts, 34, had been charged with abuse of a corpse after she miscarried into a toilet on Sept. 22 at her home in Warren, 60 miles south of Cleveland. Her case has drawn international attention and fears among reproductive rights experts who see it as a dangerous precedent in post-Roe America.

A Trumbull County grand jury decided against indicting Watts on the abuse-of-corpse charge Thursday afternoon, the Trumbull County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement.

Watts, who is Black, was charged under a section of Ohio law that penalizes treatment of a human corpse in a “way that the person knows would outrage reasonable family sensibilities” or “community sensibilities.”

The charge is a fifth-degree felony, and, had she been convicted, Watts would have faced up to a year in prison and a $2,500 fine.

Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins said in a statement Thursday that after a “careful evaluation of both sides’ positions,” the prosecutor’s office believed that Watts did not violate the Ohio criminal statute. -(source: nbc news)

DNA America

“It’s what we know, not what you want us to believe.”

#dna #dnaamerica #news #politics

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thalkonvotes · 5 months

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Democratic Party

** Formed in 1848, the Democratic National Committee has been the home base for the Democratic Party, one of the oldest political parties in the United States

The Democratic Party is focused on advancing their Democratic Platform and looking for positive solutions that include everyone.

Their stance on, what would be considered, issues for major political debate would be:

Every person in this nation should be treated with dignity and respect

Health care is a right for all

Hard work of middle class families should be rewarded

Schools and streets should be free from gun violence

Women should be able to make decisions about her own body

Candidates

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** Definition is a summary of the About Page on the Democratic Party Website. There is also a link marked in above definition that will direct you to the incredibly long "Democratic Platform" document.

Back to 2024 Party List

#Democratic Party #Presidential Candidates 2024

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foreverlogical · 5 months

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio prosecutor says it is not within his power to drop a criminal charge against a woman who miscarried in the restroom at her home, regardless of the pressure being brought to bear by the national attention on her case.

Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins said in a release issued late Tuesday that he is obligated to present the felony abuse-of-corpse charge against Brittany Watts, 33, of Warren, to a grand jury.

Seth Meyers’ Silent Response To New York City Mayor Eric Adams Says It All

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Trump Tells High Court There’s No Need To Rush The Jan. 6 Case Against Him

POLITICSWATTSBRITTANY WATTSWATKINS

Ohio Prosecutor Claims He's Obligated To Bring Miscarriage Case To Grand Jury

Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins said Tuesday he's unable to drop a criminal charge against a woman who miscarried in her own bathroom.

Dec 20, 2023, 05:56 PM EST

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youtube

“The county prosecutors are duty bound to follow Ohio law,” he wrote, noting that the memo would suffice as his office’s only comment on the matter.

Watkins said it is the grand jury’s role to determine whether Watts should be indicted. Defendants are “no-billed,” or not indicted, in about 20% of the hundreds of cases county grand juries hear each year, he said.

#abortion rights #abortion #ohio #womens rights #womens health #Youtube

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antiquesandfineartnet · 1 year

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Catherine Watkins antique oil painting RARE

#antique painting #antiquesforsale #oilpainting #signed #antique #impasto #impressionism #forsale #art #landscapepainting #landscape #landscapeoilpainting #artforsale

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guruwithin · 1 year

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youtube

Mama Don't Allow - 11/4/2017 >

Chris Thile, Sara Watkins, Sean Watkins, Fantastic Negrito, Rich Dworsky, Chris Eldridge, Brittany Haas, Alan Hampton, and Ted Poor close out our November 4, 2017 show with "Mama Don't Allow"

#youtube

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perfectlydangerousarbiter · 2 years

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Water protection in the focus of the first poultry research day

Jessica Weson Among the speakers (back row – L to R): Yi Liang, Tom Tabler, Rodney Wright and Susan Watkins. (Front row – L to R) Sara Orlowski, Brittany Craig, Samantha Beitia and Liz Greene. The Center of Excellence for Poultry Science and the Poultry Science Graduate Association hosted the inaugural Poultry Science (POSC) Research Day on May 25 to highlight the industry’s water conservation…

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pacificinterlude · 3 years

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Brittany Hoffner shot by Arnie watkins

#film #ocean #70s #pacific interlude #vintage #summer #pacific #travel #sailing #beach #arnie watkins #watarnie #Brittany Hoffner #35mm #beachlife

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maysshortmoviereviews · 3 years

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Brittany Runs A Marathon (2019)

A young woman decides to make positive changes in her life by training for the New York City Marathon.

Another great find on Amazon Prime. It is a sweet story about healthy living, positive changes in life and finding good friends. It is an uplifting, sweet, funny and enjoyable story. I really enjoyed it. Check it out!

youtube

#Brittany runs a marathon #Jillian Bell #Michaela Watkins #keeping fit #healthy living #positive life #positive mind #positive thinking #marathon #runner #good film #film review #romantic comedies

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mostunderratedawards · 4 years

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Best Feel Good Movie

Five Feet Apart

Plus One

Brittany Runs A Marathon

Alita: Battle Angel

Little

Always Be My Maybe

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fourframesatatime · 4 years

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Brittany Runs A Marathon (2019) Dir. Paul Downs Colaizzo, Cin. Seamus Tierney

“My whole life the world told me I was lazy because of the way I looked, and I told myself the same thing. Fuck that.”

#brittany runs a marathon #cinematography #jillian bell #michaela watkins #micah stock #paul downs colaizzo #seamus tierney #movies #movie frames #film still #four frames at a time #2010s #2010s movies #movies i watched in 2019

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adamwatchesmovies · 5 years

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Brittany Runs a Marathon (2019)

The poster for Brittany Runs a Marathon is misleading. This is a much more serious and grounded film than the image of Jillian Bell wincing with a glass of wine in one hand and a pair of shoes in the other would lead you to believe. There's plenty of humor but there are even more moments where the pain it explores runs deep. Paul Downs Colaizzo’s directorial debut is subtle and honest. Combined with a tried-and-true story, great characters, and an excellent performance by Bell? You've got a journey anyone can relate to.

Brittany Forgler (Bell) laughs a lot spending her nights out with her best friend Gretchen (Alice Lee) and her shifts hungover but her life would be generously described as "empty". Worst of all, her doctor has ordered her to lose some weight. Flabbergasted by the rate the gym demands, she decides to begin running.

Some people's lives are a mess through no fault of their own. Brittany is not one of those people. She’s 27-years-old but reality has yet to set in. She makes you laugh but it doesn’t take long to realize she has deep-rooted problems. Her low self-esteem has made her a magnet for toxic relationships and when the film begins, she’s happily acclimated to the negativity. There’s nowhere to go for her but up and Brittany proves to be just witty and funny enough for you to want her to succeed.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the film is the way it handles Brittany. There are times where you hate her. Her insecurities almost make her more comfortable when situations are bad. Her self-sabotage makes her arc realistic. The little victories feel like they mean the world. Most characters in films grow in the most simple ways. At best, it’s an “N” shape. They start at the bottom, rise, hit a snag and then overcome it. Brittany’s chart would be a zigzag. Surrounding Bell are rich side characters that make the reveal that this story is based on a real-life person’s experience no surprise. Lil Rel Howery plays her brother-in-law and mentor, her no-good co-worker Jern (Utkarsh Ambudkar) and her running friends She’s got charisma so her new running friends - Catherine (Michaela Watkins) and Seth (Micah Stock) all have stories of their own. Really like the casting, the way the characters are utilized and the progressive/modern elements of the story. Even when things are a tad formulaic, it earns the emotions.

At a couple of points, Brittany Runs a Marathon can feel a little low-budget, particularly during the marathon. It jumps between shots and you can tell from the lighting these people were nowhere near each other. It’s strange because every scene prior is spot-on. Jillian Bell really transforms herself as her character begins picking up the pieces. There are many laughs and tears to be shed too. Although I didn’t actually cry, I found myself surprisingly emotional during the end. (Theatrical version on the big screen, September 18, 2019)

#Brittany Runs a Marathon #BrittanyRunsaMarathon #movies #films #reviews #movie reviews #film reviews #film criticism #paul downs colaizzo #jillian bell #michaela watkins #utkarsh ambudkar #lil rel howery #micah stock #2019 movies #2019 film

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filmforager · 5 years

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Brittany Runs a Marathon: Review

Race for life

After impressive, scene-stealing supporting roles in films like 22 Jump Street and Goosebumps, it was only a matter of time before Jillian Bell’s knack for comic timing landed her a leading role of her own. And, despite its underwhelming title, the main character of Brittany Runs a Marathon is a perfect fit for Bell’s talents - a funny, self-loathing heroine whose personal journey provides both comedy, and a surprisingly touching slice of drama.

From first-time writer-director Paul Downs Colaizzo, whose real-life roommate inspired the story, the film follows Brittany (Bell), a twenty-something New Yorker whose unhealthy lifestyle - constant partying and adderall abuse - seem borne out of issues of self-confidence. Yet, when a new doctor informs her that she’s overweight, she takes the step (or rather, steps) to lose a couple of pounds, and get her life back on track.

After a very relatable sequence where Brittany berates a gym instructor for the sky-high prices that gym’s charge - ‘you do know that people can just go outside for free, right?’ - she makes the daunting decision to go on daily runs, which are hilariously filmed with the sense of menace you would get from a horror movie. Setting herself the goal of the New York City Marathon, Brittany’s race to fitness, and ultimately happiness, is replete with inevitable setbacks and moments of self-doubt. Throughout this, Downs Colaizzo laces the film with humour and warmth, and is all the better for encouraging you to see multiple sides to the characters who punctuate Brittany’s journey. Michaela Watkins impresses as a well-off, seemingly frosty fellow runner whose life isn’t as perfect as it seems, while Utkarsh Ambudkar’s man-child proves a surprisingly endearing and believable love interest.

If the film does stumble on the way to the finish line, it’s in a rushed final act that slightly overplays its message about the value of self-love and supportive friendships, and ends with a running sequence that feels like it lasts the length of an actual marathon. Yet, while the end destination isn’t particularly strong, the writing and Bell’s warm performance at least make the journey worthwhile. Brittany is a character that makes a lot of frustrating decisions, often at the expense of people who care about her, but Bell, who spends much of the movie in prosthetics, draws self-deprecating humour and empathy from her character’s experiences, demonstrating a dramatic range that few films have allowed her to show. Testament to Bell, you genuinely hope that Brittany will overcome the barriers in her way, whether it’s a horribly self-centred roommate, or a mouth-watering burger meal.

It gets slightly overbearing at the end, but this is a funny, moving and uplifting film about the importance of keeping your head up in the face of hardship, with a star-making performance from Bell.

★★★

#brittany runs a marathon #jillian bell #utkarsh ambudkar #movie #3 stars #michaela watkins #22 jump street #review #marathon

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