Woman Helps Daughter Kill Unborn Baby Buries Baby in Backyard to Hide From Girl's Father

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A mother and her teenage daughter face felony charges after performing an at-home abortion and burying the potentially viable unborn baby in their backyard to conceal the act from the girl’s father.

Susquehanna Regional Police charged Shannon Noelle Jones, 50, on Wednesday with endangering the welfare of children, corruption of minors and criminal conspiracy to conceal the death of a child.

The investigation began when a witness reported that the teen, who was pregnant, had attempted to obtain a clinical abortion but was told she was too far along in her pregnancy. Pennsylvania law prohibits clinical abortions after the 23rd week of pregnancy.

According to court documents, Jones purchased abortion-inducing drug online after her daughter was unable to obtain a surgical abortion. The teen, identified only as a juvenile due to her age, allegedly took the abortion pill at their home, resulting in the death of her unborn baby, a boy estimated at 19 weeks and six days gestation. The coroner’s report listed the cause of death as premature fetal death, with the manner undetermined.

Pro-life advocates expressed horror at the case, emphasizing the humanity of the unborn child and saying the tragedy underscores the devastating consequences of treating unborn babies as disposable

A 19-week-old baby is fully formed, with a beating heart and the capacity to feel pain. This was a life, not a choice to be buried in secret.

Court records reveal the teen told a friend the baby was “still moving” after the induced abortion, a detail that has further fueled outrage among pro-life groups. The mother and daughter allegedly placed the baby’s body in a box and buried the boy in their backyard to hide the act from the teen’s father, who was unaware of the pregnancy.

The case has reignited debates over abortion laws in Pennsylvania, where protections for unborn children are a focal point for pro-life advocates.

Police uncovered the buried remains following the witness’s tip, leading to the arrests. The teen was charged as a juvenile, while Lee faces adult felony charges. Both are awaiting court proceedings, with Jones’s preliminary hearing scheduled for later this month.

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