Baby’s Decapitation at Birth Ruled as Homicide, Clayton County Medical Examiner Says

On July 9, Jessica Ross, 20-year-old was admitted to the hospital in Riverdale after her water broke.

The baby, Treveon Isaiah Taylor, Jr., experienced complications, specifically shoulder dystocia, leading to prolonged attempts at vaginal delivery by Dr. Tracy St. Julian.

Eventually, a Cesarean section was executed, delivering the body first and the head vaginally.

Baby Decapitated at Birth

In response to the incident on July 9, where Jessica Ross was admitted to Southern Regional Medical Center in Riverdale, Georgia, due to difficulty during delivery, a lawsuit was filed last summer.

The suit, brought by Ross and her partner Treveon Isaiah Taylor Sr., alleged negligence and fraud. It claimed that the baby's shoulders were stuck in the vaginal canal, leading to the use of excessive force by Dr. Tracey St. Julian, the attending physician.

The lawsuit also accused the hospital of a delayed and improper response, resulting in the tragic outcome of decapitation and death for Treveon Isaiah Taylor Jr.

The legal complaint also contended that the hospital withheld information about the baby's manner of death from the family for several days.

In response to these allegations, Southern Regional Medical Center initially cited patient privacy laws as a constraint on discussing patient care specifics but expressed sympathy for the family.

Subsequently, the hospital released another statement denying the allegations, emphasizing that the doctor mentioned in the lawsuit was not their employee, and asserting that they had taken appropriate steps in response to the situation.

The hospital also stated their belief that the baby died before birth, a claim disputed by the family's lawyers, who noted that evidence would reveal the truth.

The recent medical examiner's report attributes the infant's death to factors such as shoulder dystocia, labor arrest, and fetal entrapment in the birth canal.

Despite a subsequent C-section procedure that removed the baby's body and legs, the head was delivered vaginally.

Other contributing factors mentioned include pregnancy-induced diabetes and premature rupture of membranes.

The parents, Ross and Taylor, alleged that hospital staff discouraged them from pursuing an autopsy, and they only discovered the decapitation after being discharged.

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Hospital Sued for Baby's Decapitation

The lawsuit filed by the family alleges that Dr. St. Julian did not disclose the decapitation when speaking to Ross and her family, and the hospital discouraged them from pursuing an autopsy.

The baby's head was reportedly concealed when the parents requested to see and hold their child.

The family was informed of the decapitation by the funeral home, prompting an investigation by the Clayton County Medical Examiner's Office.

The preliminary autopsy results led to inquiries into the actions of the medical staff during childbirth, involving state agencies and the Clayton County Police Department launching a criminal investigation.

Following the delivery, the funeral home recommended a pathologist to the family, who then entered into a contract and paid $2,500 for a private autopsy, as outlined in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit targets Dr. St. Julian, Premier Women's OB/GYN, LLC, and several nurses, accusing them of negligence in the delivery process.

The complaint seeks compensation for the suffering, death of the child, and the emotional trauma experienced by Ross.

The emotional distress encountered by the couple was worsened when they were initially denied the opportunity to see and hold their newborn.

According to reports, the baby's head was concealed by being positioned on top of his body in a blanket, heightening the agony for the grieving parents.

The couple's attorney described the situation as a nightmare covered up by Southern Regional Medical Center, turning the triumph of their first child's birth into a destructive and lasting ordeal.

The investigation remains ongoing, with the possibility of the case being referred to the District Attorney's Office, as the classification of homicide implies that another person's actions led to the infant's death.

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