A Texas woman who was arrested and charged with murder over a self-induced abortion in 2022 is suing prosecutors, The Associated Press reports.
Lizelle Gonzalez was arrested in Starr County, Texas and charged with murder in “the death of an individual by self-induced abortion.”
Since Texas law does not allow for criminal charges to be brought against the pregnancy person who seeks an abortion, the charge was dropped three days later and the prosecutor was disciplined for bringing the charge in the first place.
But, in her lawsuit Gonzalez, who had already spent two days in jail, said the damage was already done.
Gonzalez suffered harm from the arrest and subsequent media coverage, the lawsuit says, adding “the fallout from Defendants’ illegal and unconstitutional actions has forever changed the Plaintiff’s life.”
Gonzalez is suing Starr County District Attorney Gocha Allen Ramirez and Assistant District Attorney Alexandria Lynn Barrera. She is seeking $1 million in damages.
An investigation conducted by the Texas state bar found that Ramirez “sought to pursue criminal homicide charges against an individual for acts clearly not criminal,” according to The Texas Tribune.
Ramirez agreed to pay a $1,250 fine and his license will be held in a probated suspension for a year.
