Massachusetts Man Arrested, Stabbed Pregnant Girlfriend After Abortion Refusal
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 18, 2009
Southbridge, MA (LifeNews.com) — A Massachusetts man has been arrested and is in policy custody following an alleged multiple stabbing which saw him attack his pregnant girlfriend after she refused to have an abortion. Police say they have 18-year-old Alex Santana in custody and he is being held on $500,000 bail.
Officials say Santana repeatedly stabbed Leah Diver on Friday afternoon after the two had an argument about her pregnancy.
Santana was ordered on bail after entering a not guilty plea through his attorney in Dudley District Court. He faces charges of armed assault with intent to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
He is slated to return to court for an initial hearing on September 28.
Diver is 28 years-old and is currently in critical condition at a Worcester hospital. Police say her baby survived the attack.
Cases like this one of partners attacking their wives or girlfriends after an abortion refusal are somewhat common.
In the most recent case Charles Daniels Jr., a 34-year-old man from Florida, stands accused of assaulting his pregnant girlfriend when she refused his abortion request.
Alachua County deputies arrested Daniels in June on charges that he assaulted and sexually battered an unnamed 36-year-old Gainesville woman.
The Gainesville Sun newspaper says officers arrested Daniels on Saturday and that he is being held in jail pending a $70,000 bond.
The newspaper indicates the arrest warrant contends Daniels hit the woman, puts his hands around her throat and told her she would never see her children again. He had reportedly dated the woman only a week and attacked her when he learned she was pregnant with a baby who wasn’t his.
The woman, who was treated for pain and bleeding at a local medical facility, said Daniels had been abusing drugs at the time he attacked her.
Some 36 states have unborn victims laws on the books that allow prosecutors to charge criminals with killing or injuring an unborn child in addition to any crime against the mother. Massachusetts allows additional charges if the baby is killed after the point of viability.
Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com
Daily Pro-Life News Report Twice-Weekly Pro-Life
News Report Receive a free daily email report from LifeNews.com with the latest pro-life news stories on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here. Receive a free twice-weekly email report with the latest pro-life news headlines on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here.
