Woman charged with murder gives birth, is now back in jail
FULTON, Miss. (AP) – A woman accused of capital murder was taken to a hospital to give birth, but is now back behind bars.
Itawamba County Sheriff Chris Dickinson says the baby girl is in her grandmother’s custody, and the county faces a hospital bill of about $10,000.
The mother, 18-year-old Tonisha Johnson, is among five people accused of killing a Mantachie man during an attempt to steal marijuana from his house.
Dickinson tells the Itawamba County Times that the county is appealing Medicaid’s refusal to pay any of Johnson’s hospital bill.
He says it’s the first time the county’s had a pregnant inmate. He says that if the crime had been less serious, the county probably would have tried to find a way to keep Johnson out of custody during her pregnancy.
