Fetus Found In Sewer Pipe At Philadelphia Home; Cops Question Couple In Their 60s

Philadelphia cops are investigating the discovery of a fetus in a sewer pipe at a home in the Kensington area on Monday.

Plumbers made the discovery while working in the basement on pipes leading to a clogged toilet, and then called 911, according to the Inquirer.

Detectives confirmed that the 6-inch fetus was human.

"It may not be a crime scene," Chief Inspector Scott Small told the Philadelphia Daily News. "It appears someone may have had a miscarriage."

Investigators will question a couple in their 60s who live at the home, but NBC reports that a "for rent" sign outside could mean that the couple was renting a room to a pregnant woman.

Cops estimated that the fetus was about 14 to 16 weeks from conception. It did not appear to be decomposed.

Comments

[megandvc]

08:31 PM on 02/27/2012

And why did they have to report this, if indeed a woman had a miscarriage at home, itsnt it traumatizing enough without having the whole world judging you.

[mech126]

02:20 AM on 02/23/2012

Another waste of tax payer money......

[SageFire]

05:50 PM on 02/22/2012

There are people who have full term babies who do not know they are pregnant. Having lost a child I very much wanted in exactly this way at the same point in the pregnancy I can tell you that if you didn't know you were pregnant you could have this happen without knowing it if you thought you were just having a heavy period.

I knew I was pregnant because I had been trying to become so for weeks so I knew enough to retrieve everything to have it checked out by my doctor. I really wish people would learn a little about medical issues before deciding someone's guilt or innocence in such a personal matter.

[Yomomanem]

03:51 AM on 02/22/2012

The Conservative Abortion Plan

[megsy123]

03:35 AM on 02/22/2012

Is it illegal to miscarry now?

[Yomomanem]

03:57 AM on 02/22/2012

The Reps. are coming!The Reps. are coming!The Reps. are coming!The Reps. are coming!

[synergie]

01:11 PM on 02/22/2012

In some states, yes. There are women in prison now for miscarrying.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/24/america-pregnant-women-murder-charges

[IrieMoon]

02:56 PM on 02/23/2012

Wow, I checked out your link and that is just insane!

[J Owen Williams]

03:00 AM on 03/03/2012

Most of the women in the article you linked to were charged with the death of their fetus after consuming hard drugs such as cocaine and meth. Pretty much anyone would support these punishments for such reckless behavior, regardless or political party.

[smlyttle]

01:42 AM on 02/22/2012

That has got to be near if not at the top of most disturbing things found on the job for a plumber.

[u s e r]

10:22 PM on 02/21/2012

By next year this will be a reality show on Fox called "Whose Fetus is it Anyway?"

[deborah kitzul]

09:25 PM on 02/21/2012

the report says the fetus was estimated to be 14-16 weeks and the video report says 2-3 months which would be 8-12 weeks, lot of time discrepancy there. This was probably a miscarriage.

[deborah kitzul]

09:31 PM on 02/21/2012

Katherine, don't know where you get your information from and your comment that scientists have proved that the spirit of God knits with that little bit of flesh the moment of conception. No that is not true, otherwise it would be common knowledge. More likely you have drunk the kool-aid of all this religious hoopla that the republican tea party politicians have stirred up that they know nothing about except to side with their latest contributor.

If you have read the old testament you would know that God itself does not consider a fetus-word unknown at the time the bible was written-to be alive UNTIL GOD ITSELF BREATHS THE FIRST BREATH OF LIFE INTO THE NEWLY BORN BABY AND NOT UNTIL THEN DOES GOD CONSIDER IT ALIVE.

[u s e r]

10:23 PM on 02/21/2012

The Big Book of Terrible, Magic Answers is not satisfying to thoughtful folks.
Not a single sentence in the bible in praise of intelligence.

[Parade Keegan]

06:39 PM on 02/21/2012

This isn't a big deal, it's too bad but until the "whys" are answered this isn't news.

[Dazzle127]

06:11 PM on 02/21/2012

I am sad for the mother's loss of her BABY, not fetus.

[humbledebbie]

07:07 PM on 02/21/2012

It's a fetus

[lofttypeofaview]

10:46 PM on 02/21/2012

The baby is never labeled a fetus for a parent who wants their child. For instance we don't call baby showers, fetus showers; even though they occur before the baby is born!

[rockysparks]

10:55 PM on 02/21/2012

Fetus.

[megsy123]

03:36 AM on 02/22/2012

In the medical field, we call them fetus'. It was certainly not viable.

[mo524]

04:13 PM on 02/21/2012

I feel bad for the plumber I mean in that job you expect to seem some things but nothing like this.

[Nome Sain]

04:09 PM on 02/21/2012

Nasty and sad to see a human life being treated like sewer.

[humbledebbie]

07:08 PM on 02/21/2012

Not a life. A fetus. It's not a life until it breathes it's first breath.

[Everettguy]

07:59 PM on 02/21/2012

Sick, dude, just sick.

[Mindy Czech]

03:18 AM on 02/22/2012

It was probably a miscarriage. What was she supposed to do with it?

[LeaderofMen]

04:09 PM on 02/21/2012

Now, imagine it's 2015 and this had happened in Reston, VA.

If a 'person' (a legal FICTION) is a lump of cells, and if a woman has a miscarriage, she is automatically a criminal. Let's say it's 2015 and the 'personhood' law is in effect in Reston. Whoever this woman was would be hunted down, arrested, then tried for murder.

That's what voting Republican does to people.

[debsabc]

05:21 PM on 02/21/2012

That's what voting Republican does to people.... how stupid is that statement

[pjlim]

06:59 PM on 02/21/2012

The GOP write the bills. debabc is just reporting the facts... Now lets make sure that Santorum's abortion police don't hear about it!!!!!!

[OmaDrei]

07:47 PM on 02/21/2012

debsabc
2 hours ago (5:21 PM)

He is telling the truth.

[sparkybrown7877]

05:38 PM on 02/21/2012

My cousin lost her fetus walking down the streets, this woman probably went to the bathroom and had the miscarriage, how does it make her a murder?

[Everettguy]

08:00 PM on 02/21/2012

Hey, don't ruin their little mutual rant. Of course a miscarriage is not a crime and no one has ever considered it making it one. But if that's how they sleep at night, so be it.

[sparkybrown7877]

08:38 PM on 02/21/2012

*correction: murderer.

[Kevin Mills]

02:55 PM on 02/21/2012

fav me if you thought there would be a bunch of comments about Rick Santorum on here!