Shannon Jones, a mother from East Donegal Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, will stand trial after waiving her preliminary hearing on charges related to the concealment of a newborn's death. The charges stem from an incident in May 2024, when Jones allegedly provided abortion pills to her then-17-year-old daughter, Sydney, against medical advice, resulting in the termination of her pregnancy. Jones and her daughter are accused of burying the baby's remains in their backyard to hide the pregnancy and birth from family and others.
The case came to light when police discovered the remains in the backyard in March. Jones faces charges of endangering the welfare of a child, corruption of minors, and conspiracy to conceal the death of a child. Her daughter, who is now 18, is being charged as a juvenile with concealing the death of a child and abuse of a corpse. According to police, Jones purchased the abortion medication online, despite knowing that her daughter was too far along in her pregnancy to safely use it. The autopsy of the remains indicated the gestational age was about 20 weeks, well beyond the recommended 10-week limit for the use of abortion medication.
The case has raised legal complexities, as the law prevents charging the defendants with performing an abortion. District Attorney Heather Adams emphasized that the charges focus on the actions taken after the abortion. The trial will proceed in county court, with Assistant District Attorney Fritz Haverstick prosecuting the case. Jones is currently free on her own recognizance.