TX Public Radio: “Starr County District Attorney Gocha Allen Ramirez said Sunday he has filed a motion to dismiss a murder charge against a woman for performing a “self-induced abortion.”
Ramirez said the case stemmed from a report made to police by a local hospital in January.
The Starr County Sheriff’s Office arrested 26-year-old Lizelle Herrera on Thursday and held her in custody on $500,000 bond. By Saturday night, Herrera was released from custody after an abortion rights advocacy fund posted bail on her behalf.
Ramirez said the Starr County Sheriff’s Department “did their duty in investigating the incident brought to their attention by the reporting hospital” but this was not a criminal matter under Texas law.
“In reviewing applicable Texas law, it is clear that Ms. Herrera cannot and should not be prosecuted for the allegation against her.” Ramirez said.
This is a dramatic turnaround from an indictment signed March 30, 2022, stating that Herrera “did then and there intentionally and knowingly cause the death of an individual J.A.H. by a self-induced abortion.””