North Carolina Social Worker Not Charged in Abortion-Rape Coverup 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
November 1, 2005
Wilmington, NC (LifeNews.com) — Authorities have dropped the charges against a social worker accused of covering up a statutory rape investigation by aiding a minor teenager in getting an abortion. Investigators had hoped to obtain a DNA sample from the unborn child in order to prosecute the man responsible for impregnating the teen.
However, authorities are now dropping the obstruction of justice charges they initially were moving on against New Hanover County social worker Susan L. Taylor. Knowing officials hoped to obtain the DNA evidence in their case, Taylor refused to tell a local investigator of the teen’s planned abortion.
Taylor was arrested on October 20 but District Attorney Ben David told the Associated Press the decision to drop the charges against her was not based on the merits of their case.
He said his office needs to focus on its work with the local sheriff’s department on the statutory rape case.
"What she did was in direct conflict with our ongoing investigation," Sheriff’s Lt. William Hoehlein said before the charges were dropped.
After her arrest, Taylor and her attorney refused to comment and she was released on $400 bail and had a planned court date of November 17.
Still, the county Department of Social Services will carry on with its own probe to determine if Taylor broke any rules or laws.
The Star-News of Wilmington said the statutory rape case was opened in August when the victim was 2 to 4 weeks pregnant and the investigation was complicated when the 14 year-old girl refused to identify the 27 year-old man accused of impregnating her.
