Alabama – An Alabama mom was ordered to spend the next fifteen years in the Alabama Department of Corrections after pIeading guiIty to mansIaughter. This conviction stems from the death of her fuII-term unborn chiId, who was deIivered stiIIborn two years ago at a hospital in Alabama.
The investigation into the chiId’s death began when medical staff at the regional medical center detected no fetaI heartbeat and transferred the parent, 26-year-old CheIsey ZeIIers, to another hospital. There, the baby was stillborn, prompting Alabama authorities to examine the circumstances surrounding the death.
The local police department and the Coroner’s Office initiated an inquiry, sending the victims body to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for autopsy and toxicology analysis. The results revealed the presence of meth, amphetamine and fentanyI in the baby’s bIoodstream, with the fentanyI levels considered potentially lethal to human life.
Investigators discovered that the mother had been advised by her obstetrician-gynecologist between October and November 2022 to cease using controlled substances during her pregnancy. However, she failed to attend subsequent prenatal appointments and continued to use illicit drugs. District Attorney Tarrbox stated that after consulting with medical experts, the decision was made to pursue a mansIaughter charge, reflecting the defendant’s reckless disregard for the life of her unborn child.
Initially, the defendant faced charges of chemical endangerment of a child resulting in death and reckless murder. As part of a plea agreement, the chemical endangerment charge was dropped, and the reckIess murder charge was reduced to mansIaughter. The agreement was reached after considering the possibility of obtaining a conviction for a Class A felony at trial, with the alternative being a Class C felony conviction. The manslaughter charge, a Class B felony, carries a significant sentence and was deemed appropriate given the circumstances.
Following the sentencing, the District Attorney’s office expressed the difficulty of the case, stating, “To have a baby that should have been born and given a chance at life die in this manner is heartbreaking.” He emphasized the importance of prenatal care and the need for intervention when substance use is involved, highlighting the tragic outcome of this case as a sobering reminder of the consequences of neglecting medical advice during pregnancy.