Tiffany Marie RobertsAs debate over fetal rights brews across the country, state prosecutors on Thursday moved to dismiss all charges against Tiffany Marie Roberts, the mother who was accused of first-degree murder after her premature twins died, allegedly as a result of repeated illegal drug use.
Roberts, 29, told police she was “experiencing shortness of breath,” after taking an ecstasy pill on July 21 and going to the hospital, where she tested positive for the drug. She was prepped for emergency labor and gave birth to her twins at 23 weeks pregnant. A normal pregnancy lasts 40 weeks.
Both of Roberts’ infants tested positive for “several narcotics” at the time of birth; they died on July 23 – two days after being born.
While the hospital listed the infants’ cause of death as pulmonary hemorrhage, or acute bleeding from the lung, a ruling on an official cause of death has not yet been made by the Hamilton County Medical Examiner’s Office. That’s because some toxicology reports are still pending.
Roberts was arrested the same day her infants died and was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse or neglect and “viable fetus as a victim.”