SUMMARY: Laura McKee, age 19, died on January 22, 1966 after an abortion attempt in by her surgical technician fiance Newport, Kentucky.

Laura McKeeLaura McKee, a 19-year-old honors graduate of Holmes High School in Covington, Kentucky, worked as a secretary at the Army Procurement office near LaGrange, Kentucky.

She was dead on arrival at LaGrange Hospital on the night of January 22, 1966.

Her fiance, 19-year-old surgical technician Rodney G. Powers, said that he had left Laura, who had been feeling unwell, in the car outside a motel near LaGrange to go get some sandwiches. He returned, he said, to find her unconscious.

Authorities initially thought that Laura might have died of carbon monoxide poisoning from sitting in a car with the engine running. However, an autopsy revealed that she had died from abortion injuries.

Rodney PowersRodney was arrested shortly before 6:00 the morning of February 3 at Laura’s home, where he had been spending most of his time since her death. Police charged him with capital murder in Laura’s death.

Source:

• “Youth, 19, Accused In Fiancee’s Death,” Cincinnati Enquirer, Feb. 4, 1966