TIFTON, Ga. (WALB) - Georgia lawmakers are speaking out following the Tift County district attorney’s decision to drop charges in a fetal remains case.

On March 21, Selena Maria Chandler-Scott was arrested and charged after having a miscarriage and dumping a 19-week-old fetus in the dumpster.

Tift County District Attorney Patrick Warren said the decision to drop the criminal charges against Chandler-Scott came after a “comprehensive review” from both legal and medical experts who found no trauma or foul play to the fetal remains.

Still, Democratic State Senator Sally Harrell of Atlanta said she wants House Bill 481, the Life Act, changed

The Act was passed in 2019 and expanded the “personhood Rights” to fetuses after six weeks of gestation.

“[Chandler-Scott’s] story could really be any woman’s story of reproductive age,” Sen. Harrell said. “The law that was passed by the legislature in 2019, that then became law after Roe v. Wade was overturned. Granted, what we call ‘personhood’ to the fetus. In other words, the fetus at around six weeks has the rights of a full person. I think, why the charges were concealment of death of a person and improper disposal of a person. I don’t want to see this happen more and more, but it could because of the way the law is written.”

State Representative Darlene Taylor, who represents District 173, including Thomas and Grady counties, co-sponsored the Life Act back in 2019.

She explains that there’s a difference between a miscarriage and an abortion, and that in this case, she’s concerned about the way the fetus was disposed of.

“There should be respect for anybody, any person that has died and passed away, whether it’s a fetus or a person of any age, just to throw in a dumpster does not seem appropriate,” Rep. Taylor said. “And I’m sorry for her health issues and whatever caused this to happen, but I think it does need to be addressed, and I would think law enforcement should look at it again.”

On Friday, Warren told WALB that he hopes that this decision allows Chandler-Scott and the Tifton community to heal from this quote, “disturbing and tragic case.”

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