TIFT COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - Tift County District Attorney Patrick Warren announced Friday that all charges have been dismissed against a Tifton woman who experienced a miscarriage and was later arrested after placing the fetal remains in a dumpster.

Selena Chandler-Scott, 24, was charged with concealing the death of another and abandonment of a dead body.

After thorough examination of the facts and the law, my office has determined that continuing prosecution is not legally sustainable and not in the interest of justice. This case is heartbreaking and emotionally difficult for everyone involved, but our decision must be grounded in law, not emotion or speculation.

Warren said he addressed public concern regarding the timing of the charges, clarifying that his office advised law enforcement to wait for the full medical findings and completed witness statements before moving forward.

“While law enforcement acted in good faith and responded to a very difficult and emotional situation, it’s now clear that no criminal law was violated,” Warren said. “As chief prosecutor, it’s my responsibility to take a step back and look at the complete picture. In this case, the medical examiner’s findings—combined with the legal standards—make clear that continued prosecution is not appropriate. This case highlights the importance of careful review and thoughtful decision-making, particularly in sensitive situations like pregnancy loss.”

Warren said relevant Georgia case law requires that the death of the person, in both statutes, be of another, which was ‘born and existed separate and independent of its mother’ in order for the person charged to be found guilty. In this case, the GBI Medical Examiner’s report confirmed the fetus was approximately 19 weeks old and non-viable at the time it was naturally miscarried and had not taken a breath outside the womb.

The findings indicated no signs of life or independent respiration occurred, and no evidence of trauma or foul play was present.

Warren said Chandler-Scott told investigators she did not know what else to do with the fetal remains. He added that there is no specific Georgia statute or case law that addresses an individual’s choice to dispose of a naturally miscarried, non-viable fetus, as it is generally deemed a medical condition and prosecution is not warranted. That’s why Warren said there is insufficient evidence that she threw away or abandoned a dead body, nor that she was concealing another person’s death.

“This was a disturbing and tragic case,” Warren said. “I want to acknowledge the pain felt across the community. I do not condone the way the remains were handled, and I understand that her actions were distressing to many. But my duty is not to punish what feels wrong—it is to uphold the law with fairness and integrity,“ he said

This case has gotten national attention with state leaders weighing in on how this case may relate to Georgia’s current anti-abortion law, which criminalizes abortion after 6 weeks of pregnancy.

Warren said, despite an overwhelming amount of opinions, the law must be applied evenly and ethically.

“While some may feel my decision excuses Ms. Chandler-Scott’s conduct, justice must be based on law, not emotion. My hope is that this dismissal allows Ms. Chandler-Scott and the Tifton community to begin a process of recovery. As with any dismissal, it is important to note that although the investigation, to my knowledge, is complete, if additional information or incriminating evidence becomes available that is not already in the case file, my office may review this case again for prosecution.”

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