Cheerleader's Newborn Death: Legal Expert Discusses Charges and Potential Outcomes

Legal Analysis of Newborn Death Case

• ⚖️ Criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos discusses the charges against a University of Kentucky cheerleader whose newborn baby was found dead.
• 📌 The current charges include abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant.
• 💡 Geragos emphasizes that a murder charge is unlikely unless the prosecution can prove a live birth occurred.

Proving Live Birth in Court

• 🔬 The key to a murder charge hinges on proving the child was born alive and aspirated oxygen, indicating it was in the air.
• ⚠️ If a live birth cannot be proven, the prosecution cannot proceed with murder charges, as seen in past dismissed cases.
• 👶 The autopsy will attempt to determine if the child aspirated oxygen, which would suggest a live birth.

Potential Outcomes and Sentencing

• ❓ If the prosecution cannot prove a live birth, the existing charges are likely the extent of the case.
• 📈 While theoretically possible to face prison time for these charges, Geragos suggests it is practically a probation case if the defendant pleads guilty.
• 😥 The attorney notes that cases like this, where a young woman is terrified and makes wrong decisions, are sadly not rare.