Authorities in Nebraska say a woman has been arrested on suspicion of posing as a midwife and causing the death of a newborn baby she was delivering at the mother’s home.
According to WRAL, 36-year-old Angela Hock is accused of attempting to handle a complex breech birth despite not having the legally required training to advertise herself as an expert. Nebraska law reportedly requires midwives to be certified.
After the baby girl — Vera — was born unresponsive, she was pronounced dead on June 17 and authorities began investigating Hock. Emergency medical personnel attempted to revive the newborn, who went 10 minutes without oxygen during the delivery and was on life support until death two days later, as reported by NBC News.
The suspect reportedly surrendered to law enforcement on Tuesday before appearing in court on Friday.
Bond in the case was set at $25,000 and Hock is expected to face criminal charges including a felony count of homicide and could spend 20 years behind bars if convicted. Prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed that it is uncommon for such charges to be brought against a midwife.
Vera’s grandmother said she was “absolutely outraged” by the situation.
“I have a beautiful granddaughter that we just buried at Omaha National Cemetery in a tiny little casket,” Joann Floyd said. “And my heart is broken, and my daughter’s heart is broken, and my son-in-law’s heart is broken, and we’re all heartbroken. This is a beautiful baby.”
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[Featured image: Angela Hock, Omaha Police Department]
