Phoenix Police Investigate Sexual Assault After Woman in Vegetative State Gives Birth
Authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, are investigating a suspected sexual assault after a woman who has been in a vegetative state for over a decade gave birth to a baby boy on December 29. The woman, incapacitated since a near-drowning incident, was a long-term patient at Hacienda Healthcare.
According to local media, staff at the facility were initially unaware of the pregnancy and only discovered it when the woman began moaning in apparent distress.
“This matter is currently under investigation by the Phoenix Police Department,” said Sergeant Tommy Thompson, confirming the reports.
Hacienda Healthcare spokesman David Leibowitz described the incident as “deeply disturbing,” noting that the facility is cooperating fully with law enforcement and regulatory agencies. He declined to comment on whether male employees are being asked to undergo DNA testing or if additional safeguards are being implemented.
Due to privacy laws, the facility has not released further details about the patient’s condition or care.
Tasha Menaker, Chief Strategy Officer at the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, stated that it would be appropriate for authorities to conduct DNA tests on all male staff members to identify a potential suspect.
Hacienda Healthcare is known as a leading provider of specialized care for medically fragile and chronically ill individuals in Arizona, including infants, children, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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