In a surprising twist, an Ohio woman accused of mishandling a home miscarriage will not face criminal charges, as a grand jury decided on Thursday not to return an indictment for abuse of a corpse against Brittany Watts. The case had gained national attention, raising implications for pregnant women amid the ongoing discussions over reproductive health care access in various states.

Brittany Watts, a 34-year-old resident of Warren, had been the subject of scrutiny after allegedly flushing and scooping out the toilet following her miscarriage and leaving the 22-week-old fetus lodged in the pipes. However, an autopsy determined that the fetus had died in utero and did not show any recent injuries.

The decision not to file charges came just hours before supporters of Watts planned a rally on Warren's Courthouse Square under the banner "We Stand With Brittany!" A municipal judge had previously found probable cause to proceed with Watts' case after city prosecutors presented their arguments. However, her attorney, Traci Timko, defended her by highlighting that Watts had no prior criminal record and argued that she was being unjustly "demonized for something that goes on every day."

Watts had sought medical care at Mercy Health-St. Joseph's Hospital in Warren leading up to her miscarriage. According to her case records, her doctor had advised her that she was carrying a nonviable fetus and warned her of the "significant risk" of death if she did not induce labor. However, due to delays and complications, Watts left the hospital without receiving treatment on both occasions. After the miscarriage occurred, she attempted to go to a hair appointment, but concerned friends redirected her to the hospital. It was there that a nurse called 911 to report that a previously pregnant patient had returned, stating that "the baby's in her backyard in a bucket."

During the case proceedings, Warren Assistant Prosecutor Lewis Guarnieri argued that the issue at hand was not how or when the child had died, but rather the manner in which the fetus had been disposed of, causing the toilet to clog. Guarnieri stated that Watts had then continued with her day without addressing the situation.

In response to the grand jury's decision, the defense attorney, Traci Timko, emphasized the lack of clear definitions in Ohio's abuse-of-corpse statute. She questioned the terminology used, such as "human corpse," and called for better clarity regarding what constitutes "outrage" to the reasonable family and community sensibilities.

As the case took a legal turn, Municipal Court Judge Terry Ivanchak acknowledged the complexities surrounding the fetus in question, stating, "There are better scholars than I am to determine the exact legal status of this fetus, corpse, body, birthing tissue, whatever it is."

The decision by the grand jury to not indict Brittany Watts concludes the case, providing some relief to the woman at the center of the controversy. However, the discussion surrounding the implications for pregnant women and the ongoing debates on reproductive health care access are likely to continue in Ohio and beyond.