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Ohio grand jury declines to charge woman with abuse of corpse after at-home miscarriage

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Ohio grand jury declines to charge woman with abuse of corpse after at-home miscarriage


A grand jury declined to return an indictment Thursday against Brittany Watts, an Ohio woman facing an abuse of corpse charge after suffering a miscarriage in her home. The Trumbull County prosecutor’s office stated that, after evaluating the case, they believed Watts did not violate the Ohio Criminal Statute of Abuse of a Corpse. The grand jury responded by returning a no bill—effectively dismissing the case.

Watts had initially been charged with felony abuse of a corpse in October after Warren County police found the remains of her pregnancy in her toilet and trash. The case had been turned over to the Trumbull County Grand Jury in November to determine if Watts should be indicted to stand trial after the municipal court found probable cause to believe Watts guilty.

Watts miscarried in her toilet in September, leaving the 22-week-old fetus in the toilet and removing some of the contents to the trash. Her doctor had previously told her she was carrying a non-viable fetus and that she should have her labor induced or risk “significant risk” of death. Traci Timko, Watts’ attorney, said Watts waited at the hospital for eight hours to receive treatment while the hospital tried to decide how to act under Ohio’s abortion laws. Watts never received the treatment, and an autopsy revealed the fetus died in utero with no identifiable recent injuries.

A 2021 study found that Black women had a 43 percent increased risk of miscarriage compared to white women. In Our Own Voice, an organization that promotes Black women and their right to reproductive justice, released a statement on the case after the decision had been announced. President and CEO Dr. Regina Davis Moss stated:

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[Watts’ experience] is a grave example of how Black women and their bodies face legal threats simply for existing. Her story is one that is becoming alarmingly common: in states with abortion restrictions, Black women, girls, and gender-expansive people are being surveilled, arrested, prosecuted, and punished for pregnancy loss.

The grand jury’s decision comes two months after Ohio voters passed a constitutional amendment to protect reproductive rights. After the US Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling in 2021 overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that recognized an individual’s right to an abortion, states across the country have been initiating new laws to regulate access to reproductive health care. In December, the Texas Supreme Court denied Kate Cox access to an abortion, despite her pregnancy compilations. In October, the Georgia Supreme Court upheld the state’s six-week abortion ban. A 2023 report by Care Post-Roe revealed that healthcare providers in states with abortion bans are unable to meet medical standards, putting their patients at risk.

More decisions on access to reproductive care are to come in 2024. In Florida, an amendment to enshrine abortion protections in the state’s constitution will appear on the state’s 2024 ballot. The US Supreme Court also agreed in December to hear two cases on mifepristone, a drug that is widely prescribed for abortions and miscarriages.



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Ohio 15-year-old turns himself in after allegedly fatally shooting younger brother

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Ohio 15-year-old turns himself in after allegedly fatally shooting younger brother


CANTON, Ohio (WOIO/CBS Newspath/WKRC) – A 15-year-old from Ohio turned himself into the police after allegedly shooting and killing his 12-year-old brother, prompting a manhunt.

The shooting took place just before 11 p.m. on Friday in the family’s apartment, authorities said. The child was rushed to the hospital, but succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.

Police searched for the suspect, who they considered armed and dangerous, for over 12 hours, until investigators determined that the victim’s 15-year-old brother was likely the shooter.

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The 15-year-old turned himself in to authorities on Saturday afternoon and was charged with reckless homicide. Police did not announce whether or not the shooting was accidental, nor how the 15-year-old obtained the gun.



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Ohio Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 Midday winning numbers for Jan. 10, 2026

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The Ohio Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 10, 2026, results for each game:

Powerball

Powerball drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m.

05-19-21-28-64, Powerball: 14, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

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Pick 3

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.

Midday: 2-8-2

Evening: 4-0-5

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 4

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.

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Midday: 2-8-5-5

Evening: 3-1-2-2

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 5

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.

Midday: 1-6-3-5-9

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Evening: 2-4-4-4-5

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Rolling Cash 5

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 7:05 p.m.

03-14-20-28-34

Check Rolling Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

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Classic Lotto

Drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, at approximately 7:05 p.m.

01-28-32-36-38-45, Kicker: 2-7-1-1-7-4

Check Classic Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Lucky For Life

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 10:35 p.m.

17-24-36-38-43, Lucky Ball: 17

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Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Enquirer digital news director. You can send feedback using this form.



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Ex-husband arrested in deaths of Ohio dentist and his wife | CNN

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Ex-husband arrested in deaths of Ohio dentist and his wife | CNN


The ex-husband of Monique Tepe has been arrested in connection with the killings of the mother and her husband Spencer Tepe, a respected dentist, in their Ohio home last week, Columbus police said Saturday.

Michael David McKee, 39, who court records identify as Monique Tepe’s ex-husband, is in custody in Winnebago County, Illinois, according to inmate records with the sheriff’s office.

McKee is scheduled to appear in court Monday, records show. He was arrested on two counts of murder in the killings on Saturday, an incident report shows, and was taken into custody “without incident” in Rockford, Illinois, police said.

Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39, were found dead with apparent gunshot wounds on December 30 in their house in Columbus. The couple’s two children, ages 4 and 1, were also inside but were not physically harmed, police said.

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The arrest marks a major development in the case after the suspect in the couple’s killings remained on the loose for more than 10 days, during which police released scant details on the investigation.

Police said Saturday they will release further information “as appropriate” to avoid compromising the “active and ongoing case progress” and urged people to contact them with any information related to the tragedy.

Authorities did not find any obvious signs of forced entry or any firearm at the scene, CNN affiliate WSYX reported.

Colleagues in Spencer Tepe’s dental practice called 911 after he uncharacteristically didn’t show up to work. One of Tepe’s friends went to the couple’s house, peered inside and saw a gruesome scene next to a bed, according to emergency dispatch audio.

“There’s … there’s a body,” the friend told 911. “Our friend wasn’t answering his phone. We just did a wellness check. We just came here. And he appears dead.”

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Asked if Tepe had been ill, the friend responded, “No, no. I was just with him yesterday.”

The couple’s two children and dog are now in the care of relatives, the Tepes’ brother-in-law said.



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