Man Arrested in Death of Girlfriend’s Fetus
A 24-year-old Glendale man was arrested early Sunday on suspicion of murder, after beating his girlfriend and causing the death of her 3-month-old fetus, Glendale police said.
The woman, whose name was not released, had been beaten by Rosan Mercado several times last week and was admitted to St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank on Saturday, apparently for complications related to her pregnancy, Sgt. Jim Lowrey said.
The nature of the complications was not disclosed, but the fetus died during surgery Saturday, Lowrey said.
Mercado, who was arrested at 1:30 a.m. Sunday on suspicion of murder, was being held without bail at the Glendale jail, Lowrey said. Under California law, a murder charge can be filed against Mercado if prosecutors determine that the fetus was viable--able to survive outside the womb--which doctors say is possible after six months, authorities said.
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