No. 10: Local woman accused of killing her unborn child

FLORENCE - On July 14, a local woman was arrested after she was accused of killing her unborn child by cutting the umbilical cord.

Jennifer Darlene Johnson, 30, of 1796 Lauderdale 7, Florence, was charged with manslaughter. She faces a sentence of two to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The case was voted the No. 10 top story of 2008 in a newsroom poll.

Florence police Capt. Ron Tyler said Johnson was seven months into her pregnancy when she was taken to Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield on July 11, where her baby was delivered. Tyler said the baby was dead at birth.

"She said her water broke sometime Friday morning, and then she started experiencing pain and bleeding and was taken to Helen Keller Hospital," Tyler said.

He said medical personnel at Keller Hospital, during the course of the baby's delivery, discovered the umbilical cord had been "severed while still inside the mother's uterus."

"Investigators believe the evidence demonstrates that the death of the infant is directly related to the intentional severing of the umbilical cord," Tyler said.

Police believe the cord was severed while Johnson was at her boyfriend's house at Cherry Hill Homes in Florence. Officials said the boyfriend took Johnson to the hospital in a taxi after recognizing something was wrong with her.

Florence police detective Kevin Jackson, who along with detective Jerry Pearson conducted the investigation, said the baby died during the late night hours of July 11. He said police were notified the next morning after medical personnel determined the umbilical cord had been cut.

Jackson said Johnson was released from the hospital July 13, but was taken into custody by Florence police a short time later on outstanding traffic tickets. She was held in the Lauderdale County Detention Center until July 14, when the manslaughter charge was issued.

Officials with the Lauderdale County District Attorney's office said the case against Johnson should be presented to a session of the Lauderdale County Grand Jury in 2009.

Johnson was originally held in the Lauderdale County Detention Center on bail of $50,000.

In August, after a bond reduction hearing at the request of her attorney, Jenny Behel, of Florence, Lauderdale County District Judge Carol Medley lowered the bond amount to $25,000. Johnson posted bond and was released, authorities said.

"This still remains a very sensitive case and one that our investigators have put in a lot of time and effort into," Tyler said.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.