Updated Feb. 11, 2013 at 11:05 am.
GERMANTOWN, Md., Feb. 10, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) — The woman who reportedly died Thursday from complications after a 33-week abortion done by LeRoy Carhart has been identified as Jennifer Leigh Morbelli, 29, a kindergarten teacher from White Plains, New York.
The pro-life group Operation Rescue and pro-life blogger Jill Stanek each say that they independently confirmed the woman's identity.
The Morbellis had been expecting a daughter, Madison Leigh. The mother and daughter will be interred together in New York on Wednesday.
According to Jill Stanek, “Approximately two weeks ago Jennifer learned her daughter suffered from fetal anomalies.”
Investigations into Mrs. Morbelli's death are underway by the police and Medical Examiner's office.
“Jennifer was a beautiful woman who was loved and cherished by many, whose future appeared bright. Her passing is an unspeakable tragedy,” said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue and Pro-Life Nation, who first reported Morbelli's death last week.
“We are dedicated to working through the legal system to ensure that no more women will suffer Jennifer's fate.”
“My sincere sympathies go to Jennifer and Madison’s family, who is certainly suffering unimaginable grief,” said Jill Stanek.
Mrs. Morbelli died at Shady Grove Hospital on Thursday. While the Medical Examiner has yet to officially determine the cause of death, it is believed she died from massive internal bleeding as the result of a third trimester abortion she received at Germantown Reproductive Health Services, where Carhart works.
Efforts by family and hospital staff to reach Carhart when Mrs. Morbelli's condition worsened were unsuccessful and, according to Operation Rescue, may have contributed to her death.
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“This is a case of not only shoddy practices, but patient abandonment that we believe rises to the level of criminal conduct,” said Newman. “We will press for criminal charges in this case, in addition to Board discipline.”
In 2005, another Carhart patient, 19-year old Christin Gilbert, also died from the risky late-term abortion procedure employed by Carhart and other third trimester abortionists across the nation. Operation Rescue has documented nearly a dozen additional serious complications over the past three years related to this same procedure, raising serious questions about its safety.
“We urge the immediate passage of laws at the state level banning late-term abortions in order to protect other women and their viable babies from unnecessary injury and death,” said Newman.
Pro-life activists are holding a prayer vigil and press conference this morning at 9:00 outside Carhart's abortion facility.