Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
Support the IDS in College Media Madness! Donate here March 24 - April 8.
Thursday, March 28
The Indiana Daily Student

BPD notified of buried fetus at residence

Four Bloomington Police Department officers spent Thursday evening and part of Friday attempting to uncover a fetus buried in the side yard of a Bloomington residence.

A 15-year-old female reported to the Department of Child Services sometime Wednesday that she was raped by a 38-year-old man in early September of last year.

The forced sexual encounter resulted in a pregnancy, and the female ultimately miscarried, BPD Lt. Bill Parker said.

When the fetus was expelled, she reportedly took it and buried it in the ground near the east side of the residence.

The digging began around 6:30 p.m. Thursday, and as of noon Friday, the fetus had yet to be discovered, Parker said.

DCS initially received the case when the girl reported it Wednesday. From that point, Bloomington police intercepted the case and interviewed the 15-year-old.

Upon consulting with medical professionals and the girl, Parker said he estimates the fetus was about eight weeks old.

Parker said it is not likely the girl will face criminal charges since the fetus was not yet “viable.”

Bloomington police officers worked with an evidence technician and Monroe County Deputy Coroner J. Shields.

— Michael Majchrowicz

Get stories like this in your inbox
Subscribe