OR - Angelica Swartout charged in death of newborn, Springfield, 18 Oct 2010

[Kimster]

I've been following this trial on my local news and I really don't know whether she had a baby or not! No wonder it's taking the jury so long to decide.

 

[tiredblondy]

There was this testimony at the beginning of the trial:

http://projects.registerguard.com/w...swartout-angelica-sister-birth-child.html.csp

Swartout trial begins
January 24, 2012

"A recent doctor’s exam showed signs that alleged child-killer Angelica “Angie” Swartout experienced a full-term pregnancy and childbirth, Deputy Lane County District Attorney Bob Lane told a jury in opening statements at her aggravated murder trial. That exam, obtained last month with a warrant to search Swartout’s body, showed a vertical line of darkened skin on her lower belly — a phenomenon of advanced pregnancy — and cervical changes consistent with having pushed out a baby, Lane told jurors...."

more at link

Sorry MsIzzy I didn't see the article you above you'd just posted.

After reading the article I must say I'm still not sure and I don't think the jury is either. I would have thought for sure the Doctors could tell and that there'd be no doubt but I guess not!

 

[tiredblondy]

My two children were older when we adopted them and my daughter lied all the time. She is 30 now and has finally stopped. Thank the good Lord.

I just don't know about this case either,Kimster.

Now what I want to know is how can the Doctors not tell for sure?????

 

[Thinker Belle]

Wow, what is going on with all of these parents killing their children? Children are not objects you can simply dispose of, they are not expendables, and they certainly are not trash. Children are a precious gift and if a person cannot receive and properly care for that gift they ought to give it to someone who can! This is so completely senseless and vile it makes me sick.

 

[Thinker Belle]

Ok, just noticed this was posted over a year ago! :blushing: *going back to read the whole thread!*

 

[LCoastMom]

http://media.katu.com/images/278*371/AngelicaPregnaunt.JPG

I wonder if the jury saw the above photo? (ETA: Guessing they did after seeing her strike a similar pose for the jury.)

I'm so glad to read that the jury seems to be taking their job seriously.

 

[Missizzy]

I'm sure they must have been shown that photo. Swartout claims that she simply "stuck out her belly". I don't know about you guys but I would have surely thought the woman was pregnant.

 

[LCoastMom]

I'm sure they must have been shown that photo. Swartout claims that she simply "stuck out her belly". I don't know about you guys but I would have surely thought the woman was pregnant.

Sure looks pregnant to me MissIz. I'd like to have seen the side angle in court, from the picture in your article she doesn't look pregnant just pudgy.

This must be so difficult for her sisters, including the one who refused to say she was 100% sure Swartout was pregnant. I'd have a hard time disbelieving the sisters who saw her undressed, an 8-9 month bump is pretty hard to fake when there's no baggy clothes covering it.

 

[Missizzy]

http://www.registerguard.com/web/newslocalnews/27577183-57/swartout-jury-2010-county-lane.html.csp

Swartout jury is deadlocked; judge declares a mistrial
February 8, 2012

"A Lane County Circuit Court jury this afternoon said it was deadlocked in the Angelica Swartout aggravated murder trial. Judge Suzanne Chanti declared a mistrial and set a new trial date for April 16. For her to be aquitted, the not guilty vote would have needed to be 10-2. For her to be convicted, the guilty vote would have had to be unanimous...."

more at link

 

[BD1]

imo? She was pregnant. And also imo? She'll never be convicted.

 

[MsFacetious]

They need to lower the charges... they aren't going to get Agg Murder with no body and questions about whether there ever was one.
Lying to an officer...
Manslaughter or murder 2...
They at least need to include those in there.

 

[Missizzy]

Can they lower or change the charges for the upcoming trial??

Here's a more in depth article from today:

http://www.registerguard.com/web/newslocalnews/27577183-57/swartout-jury-2010-chanti-lane.html.csp

Swartout trial ends in hung jury

"The jury went home, the attorneys went back to their offices, and Angelica Swartout went back to jail Wednesday afternoon after Lane County Circuit Judge Suzanne Chanti declared a mistrial in Swartout’s aggravated murder case.

Chanti’s ruling came after jurors convinced her that after four full days of deliberating behind closed doors, they could not reach consensus and decide whether prosecutors proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Swartout killed a newborn son in October 2010. “Because the jury is hopelessly hung, I do declare a mistrial,” Chanti said. After releasing the jury, Chanti immediately scheduled a new trial for Swartout for April 16...."

More at link

 

[LCoastMom]

Can they lower or change the charges for the upcoming trial??

Here's a more in depth article from today:

http://www.registerguard.com/web/newslocalnews/27577183-57/swartout-jury-2010-chanti-lane.html.csp

Swartout trial ends in hung jury

"The jury went home, the attorneys went back to their offices, and Angelica Swartout went back to jail Wednesday afternoon after Lane County Circuit Judge Suzanne Chanti declared a mistrial in Swartout’s aggravated murder case.

Chanti’s ruling came after jurors convinced her that after four full days of deliberating behind closed doors, they could not reach consensus and decide whether prosecutors proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Swartout killed a newborn son in October 2010. “Because the jury is hopelessly hung, I do declare a mistrial,” Chanti said. After releasing the jury, Chanti immediately scheduled a new trial for Swartout for April 16...."

More at link

Re BBM - Yes, now is definitely the time when either a plea deal may be reached or the state may decide to go after different (lesser) charges. It sometimes depends on where the jury deadlocked. If most were in favor of acquittal the state is more likely to go with a plea. If most were in favor of finding her guilty as charged the state maybe less inclined to accept a sweetheart deal and may just go for a retrial.

Because trials are so costly and you never know what a jury is gong to do, a plea may work in the state's favor.

From your link:

Unless a plea agreement is reached, another trial will proceed — although it is possible that prosecutors could dismiss the charge rather than retry the case.

 

[OkieGranny]

From May 2012:

http://www.oregonherald.com/oregon/local.cfm?id=2062

A jury took less than two hours Thursday to acquit an Oregon woman on trial for the second time on allegations that she killed her newborn son, in a case in which no remains were found and defense attorneys argued the woman was never pregnant.