College Student Charged With Murder For Assaulting Pregnant Woman, Killing Unborn Child

A college student in Alabama has been charged with murder for kicking and punching a pregnant woman on her stomach, resulting in the death of the victim’s unborn child, authorities said.

Iveonna Samone Lashay Turner, 20, from Dothan, allegedly assaulted the 37-year-old pregnant woman at her ex-boyfriend's residence in Houston County.

Police responded to a report of a disturbance call at the residence in Shadowlawn Drive on Jan. 24, 2022. Witnesses told police that Turner got into a physical altercation with the victim, who is identified as her boyfriend's mother, according to court records, AL.com reported.

During the altercation, Turner allegedly forced the pregnant woman to the ground, punched and kicked her multiple times in the stomach with her hands and feet. Turner struck the pregnant woman specifically in her stomach, reports said. "According to witnesses, she was focused on that area," Lt. Scott Owens from Dothan Police Department said.

The victim, who was in her earlier stage of pregnancy, felt abdominal pain after the incident and went to get medical treatment. Doctors who examined her determined that the injuries from the assault left the fetus unviable and unable to survive.

The fetus loss was reportedly early-term. However, a fetus is considered a person regardless of its viability, according to Alabama state law, Dothan Eagle reported.

Three days after the incident, Turner filed a protection from abuse order against her 32-year-old ex-boyfriend claiming she was the victim of assault that day. Turner claimed that her ex-boyfriend and the victim "jumped" at her when she was at his house to pick up their 8-week-old daughter. She also sought a protection order for their infant child. The court has scheduled a hearing on her petition for Feb. 10, 2022.

Turner was arrested Friday and is currently held on a $500,000 bond in the Houston County jail.

According to state law, a person convicted of murder is sentenced to 20 to 99 years of life in prison with the possibility of parole. However, under certain circumstances, convicted criminals are sentenced to death or life in prison without the possibility of parole.