Five fetuses were found in the home of a self-proclaimed anti-abortion activist in Washington DC who was indicted this week on federal charges for allegedly blocking access to a fertility clinic.
DC's Metropolitan Police Department made the startling discovery after responding to a tip about "potentially bio-hazardous material" at a home in Southeast DC just after noon Thursday.
According to WUSA9, Lauren Handy, 28, activism director for the anti-abortion group Progressive Anti-Abortion Rebellion, was staying at the home.
She was one of nine people indicted by a federal grand jury on Wednesday accusing the group of traveling to the capital to block access to a reproductive health center.
Detectives from the homicide and forensic services were seen removing evidence from the home in red biohazard bags and coolers, video from the outlet shows.
Handy told reporters that people panic when they hear "stored in coolers" and added that he expects raids "sooner or later".
DC Police Executive Assistance. Police Chief Ashan M. Benedict said Thursday that the fetuses appeared to have been legally aborted under the DC law.
"There doesn't seem to be anything criminal about it — except how they got into that house," Benedict said.
Benedict said the investigation into Handy's home was separate from the federal investigation that led to his indictment.
Police said the five embryos were collected by a Washington medical examiner and the investigation is ongoing.
According to the indictment, Handy called the clinic pretending to be a potential patient named "Hazel Jenkins" and scheduled an appointment in October 2020.
Prosecutors said that once she arrived, eight others forcibly entered the clinic and began closing the doors.
The indictment alleges that five of them chained themselves to chairs to block off the treatment area as others blocked the employee's entrance to prevent other patients from coming in. Another suspect prevented people from entering the waiting room, prosecutors alleged.
Handy, along with eight others, were charged with conspiracy against the rights and violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Admission Act, or FACE Act, of physically obstructing, with a person seeking reproductive health services. Prohibits intimidation or interference.