The Lancaster County Coroner’s Office this week released the age and cause of death for a fetus that was found buried in a backyard this month.
The baby boy, at 20 weeks and 6 days, had a cause of death listed as “premature fetal death,” according to a coroner’s report.
The boy’s manner of death is undetermined, but the coroner’s office said he was pronounced dead at 7:08 p.m. March 6, 2025.
Details about the baby’s death were revealed in a search warrant filed by Susquehanna Regional police. The coroner’s office responded to the 100 block of Valley Square Drive in East Donegal Township on March 6 just before 5:40 p.m.
Court documents revealed a pregnant teenage girl was told she was too far along for surgical abortion in April 2024, so she bought medicine online to induce an abortion.
Pennsylvania bans abortion after 23 weeks, 6 days; however, many providers stop offering abortions earlier in pregnancy.
The teen texted pictures of the fetus to her friend after taking the medicine between 8:30 and 9 p.m. on May 9, 2024, court documents said.
The teen also told her friend she kept the fetus in a box under her bed for two or three weeks before burying it in the backyard, according to court documents.
Susquehanna Regional police applied for the warrant so they could search the Valley Square Drive home, specifically for areas that would match the background of the photos the teen reportedly texted her friend.
No charges have been filed in the case as of Thursday. Police issued a statement Wednesday saying they would not be releasing any further information regarding the incident.
Staff writer Jenna Wise contributed to this report.
