APSO, coroner investigating female inmate's miscarriage

The Avoyelles Parish Sheriff's Office and parish Coroner's Office are investigating a female inmate's miscarriage at the Avoyelles Women's Correctional Center in Cottonport on Oct. 11.

The woman, whose name is not being released, was in the early second trimester of her pregnancy.

She was arrested without incident on Oct. 4 on a charge of forgery and was booked into the parish women's prison under $10,000 bond.

She allegedly failed or refused to cooperate with health screening procedures at the prison the next day. Medical staff were unable to verify her condition by other means, an APSO spokesman said.

At about 7 a.m. Oct. 11, the woman had the miscarriage and stillbirth of the fetus. She and the fetus were taken to Rapides Regional Medical Center by ambulance. The hospital notified the Coroner's Office of the fetal death.

On Oct. 12 the bond was reduced to $1,000 and the woman was released on her own recognizance.