A 24-year-old woman is under investigation for an alleged double infanticide in Reggio Calabria. The woman had gone to the Obstetrics and Gynecology department of the Grande Ospedale Metropolitano in recent days, complaining of severe abdominal pain. In the meantime, two fetuses were found hidden in a closet, wrapped in a sheet, in her home.
The exact circumstances of the birth remain unclear: it is not clear whether the newborns were already dead at birth. The authorities have launched an investigation, with the mobile squad of Reggio Calabria at the head of operations. The young woman's family and partner will also be questioned to gather further information.
The autopsy will be essential to establish the gestational age of the fetuses found, which appear to be “fully formed” according to an initial external examination. This examination will also have to determine whether the fetuses were born alive or were already dead and whether the birth occurred normally or was a case of abortion.
To this end, the coroner will use 'pulmonary docimasia', a test that allows to ascertain the presence of air in the lungs, thus indicating whether the newborns have breathed. The investigations will also focus on who knew about the pregnancy of the woman, currently hospitalized at the Grande Ospedale Metropolitano of Reggio Calabria, and on how many months the pregnancy lasted.
Article published on 15 July 2024 - 16:49
