DALLAS — Last week’s arrest of a woman in the Rio Grande Valley on a murder charge for a “self-induced abortion” created confusion over what’s covered by Texas’ new abortion laws.
On Thursday, Lizelle Herrera was arrested by the Starr County Sheriff’s department on a murder charge for a self-induced abortion. But the county’s district attorney, Gocha Ramirez, announced Sunday he was dropping the charge, saying “the only correct outcome to this matter is to immediately dismiss the indictment against Ms. Herrera.” The motion to dismiss the case was filed Monday.
It’s unclear which statute was used to charge Herrera, who spent two nights in jail. Those who are pregnant are exempt from being charged with murder or lesser homicide charges for an abortion under the Texas penal code. And under state abortion laws, those who obtain an abortion are excluded from any prosecution as laws generally are directed at the provider instead.
