Indiana
Abortion ban, fetal anomaly and a ticking clock: ‘an impossible decision’ | Opinion
Fetal anomalies can be detected after 22 weeks, the point at which abortion is banned in Indiana.
First to Act: The inside story of how Indiana essentially outlawed abortion.
Watch as Indiana conservative lawyer James Bopp Jr., lawmaker Renee Pack (D), and reporter Niki Kelly give context to the fight for abortion access in the state of Indiana.
Amber Martin was 20 weeks pregnant with her son Arlo when she discovered her pregnancy was in danger. Living in Indiana, a red state with a near-total abortion ban, Martin feared what would happen next.
“It’s like somebody just rips a part of your heart out,” Martin said. “You’re about to find out that everything’s so great, and you get to see (your child), and you get to see their little face and what they look like in their hands and their feet, and everything was in place where it should have been — except that.”
That was a case of hydranencephaly, a rare condition in which the fetus’ brain does not properly develop due to spinal fluid in the brain. Hydranencephaly typically results in the death of the fetus after delivery.
For Martin, 41, and her fiance, Michael Dowd, 41, the discovery of Arlo’s hydranencephaly at her ultrasound appointment was world-shattering. Martin learned about the condition 20 weeks and four days into her pregnancy, starting the clock ticking on her treatment options.
It wasn’t, ‘Does Amber have an abortion or not?’
In Indiana, abortion is allowed only in cases of rape, incest, fetal anomalies or if the mother’s life is in danger. Even within those exceptions, treatment options have deadlines. Abortions for cases of fetal anomalies are banned after 22 weeks of pregnancy.
After receiving Arlo’s diagnosis, Martin had about a week and a half before she would lose access to legal abortion.
Martin transferred her care from Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, a Catholic facility that does not perform abortions, to IU Health University Hospital in Indianapolis. Her St. Vincent doctors offered Martin one path: Carry Arlo to term while having regular CT scans and ultrasounds. University Hospital gave Martin a choice between terminating the pregnancy immediately or delivering through induction, which would have resulted in the same outcome.
Martin chose a dilation and evacuation procedure, a kind of abortion.
“There’s no words to give somebody when they’re having to make an impossible decision between bringing someone to this earth and their own health,” Martin said, adding that she faced risk of sepsis. “That’s what we did. That’s the choice that we had to make. It wasn’t, ‘Does Amber have an abortion or not?’ It’s, ‘How do we help Arlo to have peace and be able to save my life at the same time?’”
Indiana abortion ban puts deadline on treatment options
Martin and Dowd received Arlo’s hydranencephaly diagnosis in time to have options, but that is not the case for every pregnancy. Dr. Carrie Rouse, an Indianapolis OB-GYN, said it is entirely possible for fetal anomalies to be detected after 22 weeks, the point at which abortion is banned in Indiana.
“The diagnosis of fetal anomalies is made through imaging, primarily ultrasound,” Rouse said. “It all depends on when the ultrasound is done. Fetal anomalies are most often diagnosed at the anatomic survey ultrasound, which is done usually between 18 and 20 weeks.
“But there are many different reasons why a patient may not have an ultrasound on that time frame. They may have a late diagnosis of pregnancy. They may have issues accessing care for many different reasons. The anomaly may not be detectable initially and developed later.”
Martin and Dowd, who live in Sheridan, want their experience to be a catalyst for change. They’re urging people to think more critically and empathetically about what abortion access really means. For the couple, choosing abortion felt similar to taking a loved one off life support.
‘The true purpose is intimidation’
Before mourning, though, Martin had to sign Indiana’s Abortion Informed Consent Certification form, which includes a list of statements that must be affirmed and signed off on before the pregnancy can be terminated. One of the statements is an acknowledgment that the fetus can feel pain “at or before twenty (20) weeks of postfertilization age,” even though that actually happens around 24 or 25 weeks, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Also, for every abortion, a terminated pregnancy report must be signed and submitted to the Indiana Department of Health. TPRs include confidential information about the patient receiving the abortion.
The IDOH stopped sharing individual TPRs in December 2023. However, a recent executive order signed by Gov. Mike Braun, calls for cooperation with Attorney General Todd Rokita’s push to publish the TPRs of individual patients.
In addition to experiencing the trauma of abortion in Indiana, Hoosier patients who undergo the procedure face fears that their private medical information could become public.
“The true purpose is intimidation,” said Liane Groth Hulka, the co-founder of Our Choice Coalition, a political action committee focused on advocating for reproductive rights. “Even patients that go through really traumatic experiences where they have to seek abortion health care for their own life because they were raped, among other things, they are subject to intimidation, to discrimination, by their need for health care.”
‘Come and sit with me’
Will elected officials, especially those who say they are proponents of saving life, step up and acknowledge that abortion bans can kill? As lawmakers consider the future of abortion policy in Indiana, Martin has one request.
“Talk to somebody who’s been through this,” she said. “Come and sit with me while I have to go through this. Come sit down next to me in this hospital bed.”
Martin and Dowd are advocating for everyone to have life-saving access to abortion and other reproductive rights.
“I’m gonna step back from that word, (abortion), for a second, because I think people take that word and they think that it means that I’m gonna go in and chop up a baby and kill them because I just want to,” Martin said. “It’s a medical term … And there’s lots of different surgical options, medications and therapies that happen underneath that word.
“And I think that’s where we get it messed up, and I think that’s where we’re lacking in education. And that’s the part that makes me extremely angry. People don’t always go and just choose this.”
Indiana’s reproductive reality is deeply concerning. Martin and Dowd hope Arlo’s death can be the cause for life-saving legislative progress and change.
Contact IndyStar opinion fellow Sadia Khatri at sadia.khatri@indystar.com.
Diana Taurasi believes the ‘physicality’ of the WNBA decreasing
USAT’s Meghan Hall catches up with WNBA legend Diana Taurasi and her reaction the the Fever-Sky game and how the physical aspect of the W is changing.
Sports Seriously
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White reached a boiling point with officiating following her team’s 90-88 loss to the defending champion New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The Fever had an opportunity to tie or win the contest in the closing seconds. Indiana had the ball with 2.2 seconds remaining in the game. Sophie Cunningham inbounded the ball to Caitlin Clark at half court, but Clark wasn’t able to get a shot off after the Liberty’s Natasha Cloud stripped the ball. Clark flailed her arms after the apparent contact and instantly turned to the referees in bewilderment as Breanna Stewart grabbed the ball as time expired. No foul was called on Cloud on the play, much to the Fever’s dismay.
“I thought she got fouled,” White said. “I think it’s pretty egregious what’s been happening to us these last few games. A minus-31 free throw discrepancy — I might be able to understand that if we’re chucking 3s, but we’re not. We’re attacking the rim. The disrespect right now for our team has been pretty unbelievable. It’s disappointing that it doesn’t go both ways, but we can’t allow that to consume us.”
LIBERTY DOWNS FEVER: Score as Caitlin Clark, Indiana lose close game to NY
The Fever had a 12-point lead over the Liberty in the fourth quarter, but New York wen ton a 16-2 run over the course of four minutes to take the lead and eventually win. The Fever dropped to 2-2 on the season after the loss, while the Liberty remain undefeated and move to 3-0.
White called out the free throw disparity in the game, noting that the Fever only had 15 free throw attempts, compared to 32 for the Liberty. In the Fever’s win over the Atlanta Dream on Thursday, the Fever had 15 free throw attempts to the Dream’s 23.
“We’re not looking for a change. We’re just looking for consistency,” White said. “You know, I felt like the second half of Atlanta, at least at our place (on Tuesday), was at least consistent, right, and that’s that’s the thing that we’re looking for.”
Indiana center Aliyah Boston said the Fever have no choice but to accept the non-call.
“When it comes to accepting (the calls), it’s like we don’t really have a choice, because they’re going to call what they want to call,” Boston said. “So for us, I mean, even for me, I missed some of those easy buckets around the rim. I think for me, I have to put them in the rim just post hoc, and we just have to finish through contact. If we don’t get it, we don’t get it, but we have to give ourselves the best opportunity to get that basket.”
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The Indiana coroner working to identify victims from Fox Hollow Farm says “several tragedies” still remain.
In late April, Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison announced his office had identified the remains of Daniel Thomas Halloran at Fox Hollow Farm in Westfield, Indiana. He’s the 10th victim of suspected serial killer Herb Baumeister, but investigators have linked Baumeister to at least 25 victims.
A spokesperson for the coroner’s office previously told Fox News Digital it still has three DNA profiles that haven’t been identified.
Jellison said his office is working through 10,000 bone fragments and doesn’t know how many victims might be identified but told Fox News Digital in an interview there are “several tragedies.”
FOX HOLLOW FARM SERIAL KILLER’S 10TH VICTIM IDENTIFIED: CORONER
Daniel Thomas Halloran’s remains were identified after they were found at Fox Hollow Farm. (Michelle Pemberton/USA Today Network/Imagn; Hamilton County Coroner’s Office)
“We have 10,000 bone and bone fragments, so how many victims, you know, that will be is undetermined,” Jellison said. “I heard someone say recently that one death is a tragedy, two or more deaths is a statistic. And I think we have several tragedies because you have to treat each one of these individuals separately.
“So, we look at it really, you know, it’s not how many potential victims do we have, but let’s just continue working hard to identify. And then, at the end, we’ll tally that up.”
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Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison speaks during a press conference to announce the first public funeral and dedication services to honor victims of suspected serial killer Herb Baumeister Aug. 22. 2024, in Westfield, Ind. (Michelle Pemberton/IndyStar/USA Today Network)
Jellison said in an interview he plans on continuing to identify more victims until he’s no longer in office.
“This investigation will far exceed my time in this office,” Jellison said.
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Law enforcement believes Baumeister lured gay men to his home during the 1980s and 1990s, where he would kill them and bury their bodies on his 18-acre property, known as Fox Hollow Farm.
FOX HOLLOW SERIAL KILLER’S SECRET TAPES COULD REVEAL MURDER HORRORS IF EVER FOUND: DOCUMENTARY
The original sign at Fox Hollow Farm has been replaced with a replica after the original was stolen Oct. 16, 2012. (Michelle Pemberton/USA Today Network)
He often went to gay bars in the Indianapolis area when his family was out of town and, according to detectives, he would find men to bring home. Baumeister owned the Sav-A-Lot thrift store chain.
Baumeister killed himself in 1996 at a Canadian park shortly after bone fragments were found on his property, prompting authorities to launch an investigation.
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A recent ABC News documentary, “The Fox Hollow Murders: Playground of a Serial Killer,” revealed investigators believe Baumeister recorded his victims using a hidden camera inside his basement’s air vent.
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Reporters interview a police officer outside the entrance of Fox Hollow Farm in Westfield, Ind., July 2, 1996. (Rich Miller/Indy Star/USA Today Network/Imagn)
Authorities dig for human bones in a wooded area of Fox Hollow Farm in Westfield July 2, 1996. (Rich Miller/Indy Star/USA Today Network/Imagn)
“Something to relive … the murders,” said retired Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Det. Cary Milligan. “We’re looking through the bottom of the entertainment area … and we noticed this vent. … I was suspicious that if Herb was videotaping any activity that might have been going on. … That may have been a way that Herb could’ve gained power over the individuals that he was killing.”
Game 2 between the Knicks and Pacers promises plenty of fireworks, and we’re breaking down our five favorite PrizePicks player props. Can Karl-Anthony Towns stay hot offensively? Will Indiana’s bench replicate its Game 1 heroics? Let’s spotlight the top value plays to target in this pivotal showdown at Madison Square Garden.
Last night, we went 4 for 4 with 1 push, so don’t miss out on these cash-winning plays!
This line has jumped 1.5 points since Game 1—and rightfully so. After posting a team-best +12 plus-minus and pouring in nine points in just 25 minutes, it’s clear that Tom Thibodeau needs to keep unleashing the savvy guard in his rotation. In last year’s seven-game slugfest with Indiana, McBride averaged 10.7 points and hit this mark in each of the final five contests. This season? He’s cleared it in two of three regular-season meetings against the Pacers, averaging exactly 10.0 points per game. After New York’s Game 1 loss, he’s now topped this line in eight of his last nine games vs. Indiana. As long as this prop stays undervalued, we’re hammering it.
Towns was a force of nature in New York’s surprising Game 1 loss to the Pacers, erupting for 35 points on an efficient 11-of-17 shooting, including 4-of-8 from deep. He also showed notable discipline on the defensive end, keeping his fouls in check—an area that’s been a thorn in his side throughout the playoffs. With Myles Turner spending much of his time on the perimeter, Towns is likely to stay out of foul trouble again in Game 2, setting the stage for another high-usage outing.
If the Knicks hope to even the series, their second-best player has to go to work. KAT topped this scoring mark in two of three regular-season meetings with Indiana, posting 21, 30, and 40 points.
The Pacers simply don’t have a big man agile or physical enough to contain Towns near the rim—and if he stays hot from long range, he’s primed to dominate again in a pivotal Game 2 at Madison Square Garden.
The Indiana Pacers have quietly assembled one of the NBA’s most dynamic second units, perfectly tailored to support their high-velocity offensive style. With Indiana pushing the tempo at a blistering rate—ranking third in playoff pace at 99.03 possessions per game—their depth has become a tactical asset that often goes overlooked in the prop betting market.
One name to circle: Obi Toppin. The springy forward brings vertical explosiveness and relentless hustle in his limited floor time, especially thriving in transition and pick-and-roll actions where he can elevate above defenders. Toppin’s combined points, rebounds, and assists (PRA) line currently sits at 12.5—a number he’s eclipsed in 12 of his last 15 road appearances. Against his former team, the Knicks, he’s cleared that same total in 10 of their last 13 meetings, adding extra narrative juice to his already energetic play. Considering his familiarity with the Garden and the Pacers’ need for spark-plug minutes off the bench, this line feels ripe for exploitation.
The Pacers leaned heavily on their bench in Game 1, with reserves logging crucial minutes down the stretch and into overtime. Andrew Nembhard, limited by foul trouble, saw just five minutes in the fourth quarter but played the entire overtime period—chipping in 7 of his 15 total points during the extra frame. Without Tyrese Haliburton’s insanely lucky buzzer beater to send Game 1 into overtime, Nembhard would have fallen short of this line.
Despite his critical role in the Pacers’ victory, Nembard remains the fifth option in Indiana’s offensive pecking order, and his scoring outlook is far from dependable. Historically, Nembhard has struggled to find his rhythm against the Knicks, failing to surpass this projected point total in four of his eight playoff meetings with New York across the last two postseasons. In two regular-season contests against the Knicks this year, he managed just 2 and 8 points, further underscoring the uphill battle he faces against a stingy New York defense. With Myles Turner unlikely to be sidelined during critical fourth-quarter minutes again, Nembhard’s scoring ceiling may be capped once more.
OG Anunoby has consistently underwhelmed on the boards this season, hauling in five or fewer rebounds in 58 of 87 contests (66.7%), with a modest average of 4.8 per game. His numbers dip even further when sharing the floor with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, managing no more than five rebounds in 44 of 63 games (69.8%) and averaging just 4.7. Anunoby has corralled fewer than five boards in three straight matchups against the Pacers, averaging only 2.3 rebounds on 5.3 opportunities.
In the playoffs, the trend continues, with Anunoby surpassing this rebound line in just 4 of 13 games (30.7%). With glass-cleaning specialists like Towns, Mitchell Robinson, and Josh Hart all fighting for boards, expect Anunoby to focus on scoring and defense while falling short of his rebounding prop once again.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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