Man Forces Pregnant Ex To Drink Bleach

In a story that provides credence to our recent post on reproductive coercion, the AJC is reporting that a Savannah man was arrested for forcing his pregnant ex-girlfriend to drink bleach.

Authorities say Alexis Milton is wanted on an aggravated assault charge. The charge stems from a June 10 incident in which authorities allege Milton walked into the unidentified victim's home and told everyone but her to leave. Savannah-Chatham Police spokeswoman Gena Moore says the victim alleges Milton then forced her to drink an unspecified amount of bleach or be killed, then punched her several times and took off.

This crime is especially egregious because the victim is pregnant, and it is hard to believe that her pregnancy was not a motive in this particular offense. Abusers often try to force their partners to miscarry or to have abortions they do not want. If the child survives such treatment, there are often major long-term health effects. Pregnancy is a time when abuse often increases, and it is vital that women experiencing abuse during pregnancy seek help. It is also important for obstetricians and midwives to receive training on the warning signs of domestic violence. Prenatal appointments can be an opportune time for doctors to discuss safety options with women without their partners present. If you are pregnant and would like to speak with an advocate, or if you work with pregnant women and would like to bring a domestic violence training into your workplace, please call our 24-hour hotline at 404-688-9436. (Outside of metro Atlanta: 1-800-33-HAVEN. Outside of Georgia: 1-800-799-SAFE.)

Life Imitates "Art"

Last month we talked about Abortion Man, a "superhero" brought to you by Damon Wayans' WayOutTV. Abortion Man's evidently hilarious superpower was to, at the behest of hesitant fathers, beat up pregnant women until they miscarried. Violence against women is not funny, especially because of tragedies like this.

A judge sentenced two teens to life in prison for a beating that injured a pregnant woman and killed her unborn child.

Alfonso Price, 16, and Jebrell Wright, 17, will be eligible for parole in 23 years for their convictions on murder, felonious assault and kidnapping charges in the July 2007 attack. Authorities said the pair attacked 18-year-old Kerria Anderson, who told Price she was pregnant at the time with his unborn child.

The teens stomped Anderson in the hallway of an Over-The-Rhine apartment building after she refused to get an abortion, investigators said, and the fetus suffered fatal injuries.

Alfonso Price was a child himself when this incident occurred. Teenagers shouldn't have to be parents, and he may have been feeling scared or desperate, but that does not excuse his actions, nor explain why he felt that it was acceptible to use violence against a woman rather than respect her decisions, even if they did affect him deeply.

"Humor" like Abortion Man is one of the reasons we live in a society where violence of this type can happen. We make light of violence against women everyday, but this time two teenagers' lives are ruined, and one will probably never be the same again.