Baby Found Buried in Backyard of Pennsylvania Home After a Teen Was Allegedly Told She Couldn't Have an Abortion Performed

Police in Pennsylvania are investigating after a baby was found buried in a backyard — months after a teen reportedly took an abortion-inducing medication that was obtained over the internet after she was told she was unable to have the procedure performed.

According to local outlets The Patriot-News, Lancaster Online and NBC affiliate WGAL, the Susquehanna Regional Police Department (SRPD) investigated after an apparent fetus was discovered in the backyard of an East Donegal Township home earlier this month.

The remains were in an “advanced state of decomposition” when found, Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni told Lancaster Online.

A SRPD officer first spoke with a witness on March 6, WGAL reported, citing a search warrant application and affidavit of probable cause.

The witness claimed that in April 2024, the teen took an at-home pregnancy test and had a positive result, before her pregnancy was later confirmed by a doctor. They claim the girl then went to an abortion clinic — where she was told the pregnancy was too far along to get an abortion, per The Patriot News.

As the outlet reported, abortion is banned in the state after 23 weeks and 6 days. Many providers also do not offer access to abortion earlier on. According to the state of Pennsylvania’s website, abortion is legal through the 23rd week of pregnancy, as well as in “certain cases when the health of the pregnant person is in danger.”

After her visit to the clinic, the teen and her mother allegedly obtained abortion-inducing medication over the internet, according to The Patriot News — which also cited a search warrant.

The girl’s friend reportedly told police that she took the medication on May 9, before texting her a day later that the fetus “came out,” calling it “a full baby.”

According to WGAL, the documents used both “baby” and “fetus” when referring to the discovery.

Citing the search warrant, WGAL reported that the girl also texted an image of the fetus “with the umbilical cord and placenta in what appears to be a white trash bag,” before allegedly confirming that she kept it in a container under her bed for two to three weeks ahead of the alleged burying.

After the witness spoke with an officer from the SRPD on March 6, police executed a search warrant, and the coroner’s office took custody of the remains.

Diamontoni later told WGAL that the cause of death was extreme prematurity prior to viability, with a manner undetermined. He added that the remains appeared to have been buried in the yard for several months.

The coroner also told ABC 27 that the fetus would not have survived outside of the womb.

No arrests had been made as of Thursday, March 13, WGAL reported.

The SRPD did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for further information on Saturday, March 15.