A Nebraska mom will spend two years in prison after giving her teenage daughter abortion pills, then helping to destroy the fetus.
Jessica Burgess, 42, pleaded guilty in July to several charges, including tampering with human remains, false reporting and providing an abortion after at least 20 weeks of gestation.
Burgess’ then 17-year-old daughter was in her third trimester at the time.
Now 19, Celeste Burgess will also see jail time, having been sentenced in July to 90 days in jail and two years of probation for burning, and burying, the fetus.
The mother, who lives in Norfolk, Neb., about two hours northwest of Omaha, ordered abortion pills online and gave them to her daughter in spring 2022, officials said.
Norfolk authorities said the women discussed ending the pregnancy, and destroying the evidence, in Facebook messages. Authorities got a search warrant to access their exchanges after someone tipped them off, then police found the remains of the fetus buried in a field north of Norfolk.
In one of the Facebook messages, Jessica Burgess instructed her daughter on how to take the pills to end the pregnancy, according to court records. In another, Celeste Burgess wrote, “I will finally be able to wear jeans.”
with Post wires
