Each woman’s story includes whatever documentation I can find to substantiate her death. Women’s Stories
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All Deaths by Name
- “Cathy R.,” October 13, 1908 Age: 19
- Self-induced with catheter
- Annie Raabe, April 4, 1907 Age: 33
- Unidentified perpetrator
Elizabeth Radcliffe, July 21, 1916 Age: 17
- Boyfriend charged for attempting fatal abortion with syringe full of air; outcome of case unknown to me
- Kate Radochouski, January 23, 1925 Age: 34
- Unidentified perpetrator
- Sonia Raggins, January 5, 1930 Age: 26
- Unidentified perpetrator
- Mary Rahn, October 1, 1908 Age: 21
- Midwife tried, acquitted for reasons not given in sources
- Angela Raia, March 25, 1916
- Circumstances unclear as to who was perpetrator; physicians sued
- Gene Raligh, September 18, 1929 Age: 21
- Physician sued by family; I have no knowledge of criminal case
Virginia Rappe, September 9, 1921 Age: 25
- Professional extortionist claimed actor Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle caused death via rape; reproductive organs removed and destroyed by suspected abortionist during unauthorized autopsy; Arbuckle acquitted and given written apology by jurors for his ordeal
- Dawn Ravenell, February 11, 1985 Age: 13
- One of three deaths at NAF member Eastern Women’s Center; left unattended after beginning to choke; died after several days in hospital
- Ann Regan, August 14, 1858 Age: 18
Tonya Reeves, July 21, 2012 Age: 24
- Planned Parenthood delayed seeking care for hemorrhage; bled to death
- Jeanette Reder December 12, 1930 Age: 22
- Second of three deaths linked to Dr. Emil Gleitsman; acquitted for reasons not indicated
- Harriet Reece, March 16, 1899 Age: 25
- Physician convicted
Inez Reed, March 7, 1919 Age: 28
- One of two deaths linked to Dr. Ephraim Northcott; convicted of murder
- Frances Reinhardt, July 17, 1917 Age: 34
- Non-physician posing as doctor arrested; no trial
- Beulah Rehm, January 13, 1915 Age: 23
- Died while Dr. Arthur Blunt was on bail pending trial for another abortion death; outcome of both cases unknown to me
- Ester Reid, June 8, 1914 Age: 17
- Physician arrested; no trial
- Julia Renacheve, May 16, 1883 Age: 21
- Body exhumed to reveal real cause of death as abortion; midwife tried; hung jury
- Caroline Repritis, March 20, 1916
- Midwife implicated; no trial
- Arhne Reynolds, April 5, 1927
- Physician indicted; no trial
- Jacqueline Reynolds, September 5, 1986 Age: 22
- Inadequate oxygen during anesthesia
- Anna Rice
- September 23, 1912
- One of three deaths linked to Dr. Maximillian Meinhardt; no record of prosecution
- Mary Rice, June 4 or 5, 1884
- Perpetrator unknown
- Abbie Richards, June 2, 1888 Age: 19
- First of 18 deaths linked to Dr. Lucy Hagenow; legal outcome unknown to me
- Erica Richardson, March 2, 1989 Age: 16
- Carried unconscious to aunt’s car; died of embolism
- Irene Ridgeway, March 18, 1914 Age: 28
- Unknown perpetrator
- Catherine Riga, April 1, 1921 Age: 32
- Physician convicted but later pardoned by governor
- Barbara Riley, July 20, 1970 Age: 23
- Hospital abortion recommended for health reasons; triggered sickle cell crisis
- Lennis Mae Roach, April 24, 1932 Age: 25
- One of at least 4 dead patients of Dr. Richard Thacker
- Ann E. Roberts, December 3, 1878 Age: 25
- Lay abortionist; outcome of case unknown to me
- Celie Roberts, July 24, 1931 Age: 20
- Lay abortionist convicted of murder
- Alphia Robinson, February 12, 1876 Age: 18
- Physician implicated; outcome of case unknown to me
- Annie Robinson, August 18, 1901 Age: 28
- Second of two deaths attributed to midwife Teresa Muenster; outcome of case unknown to me
- Irma Robinson, June 19, 1928 Age: 23
- Physician convicted of abortion
- Anna Roche, February 1, 1943 Age: 26
- Unidentified perpetrator
- Marie Rockhill, September 29, 1915 Age: 19
- Unidentified midwife implicated; outcome of case unknown to me
- Carmen Rodriguez, July 19, 1970 Age: 31
- Hospital abortion using risky saline method; saline in blood stream caused fatal organ damage
- Luz Rodriguez, July 9, 1986 Age: 40
- One of three dead patients of Dr. Moshe Hachamovitch; bled to death
- Magdalena Rodriguez, December 8, 1994 Age: 23
- Misdiagnosed fetal age, massive internal injuries, delay in care; doctor fled the US to avoid prosecution
- Maria Rodriguez, March 25, 2000 Age: 22
- 14th of 16 dead patients of NAF member chain Family Planning Associates
- Rosael Rodriguez, January, 1986 Age: 27
- One of two deaths in which Dr. Angel Acevado Montalvo was charged with manslaughter; outcome of case unknown to me
- Lottie Roeder, January 5, 1912 Age: 19
- Nurse/midwife charged; outcome of case unknown to me
- Frances Rogers, July 8, 1929 Age: 26
- Unidentified perpetrator
- Julia Rogers, April 28, 1973 Age: 20
- One of three deaths at Dr. T.R. Mason Howard’s Friendship Medical Center; perforated uterus and infection
- Rhonda Rollinson, September 14, 1992 Age: 32
- Progressive organ collapse and death after perforated uterus
- Edna Rohner, July 14, 1921 Age: 23
- Physician acquitted for reason not provided in documents
- Vincenza Romano, July 11, 1920 Age: 36
- Midwife indicted; outcome of case unknown to me
- Alice Ronalds, 1914 or 1915 Chicago, IL
- Suspected abortion, no perpetrator named
- Hannah Rose, 1829 or 1830
- Physician sentenced to hang, but sentence commuted by governor
- Myrtle Rose, December 23, 1931 Age: 21
- One of six dead patients of Dr. Guy E. Brewer; guilty pleas to all six deaths
- Allegra Roseberry, August 13, 1988 Age: 41
- Pushed into abortion with lies about baby’s health and her own cancer treatment options; septic abortion
- Antonesha Ross
- May 8, 2009 Age: 18
- 3rd patient to die at Women’s Aid Clinic; respiratory distress treated by giving her a paper bag to breathe into
- Clara Rowe, September 19, 1933 Age 17
- Physician convicted of murder
- Sharonda Rowe, October 11, 1981 Age: 17
- Unspecified facility; uterine laceration causing fatal embolism
- Jeanette Ruff, March 1, 1919 Age: 22
- Unidentified perpetrator
- Stacy Ruckman, February 20, 1988 Age: 23
- Deliberately overdosed on Lidocaine; unable to resuscitate
- Rhonda Ruggiero, May 23, 1982 Age: 29
- Unspecified facility; embolism and death
- LaSandra Russ, December 15, 1971 Age: 20
- Cardiac arrest during abortion in hospital
- Mary Russell, September 4, 1871 Age: 22
- Possible lay abortionist arrested; outcome of case unknown to me
- Tamiia Russell
- January 8, 2004 Age: 15
- One of 3 deaths at Dr. Alberto Hodari’s Womancare clinic; illegal third-trimester abortion arranged by abuser’s sister; uterine injuries
- Nellie Ryan, October 12, 1877 Age: 21
- Midwife (possibly doctor) arrested; outcome of case unknown to me
- Nellie Ryan, March 9, 1898
- First of two deaths linked to midwife Lena Schott; outcome of cases unknown to me
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