Ohio man indicted for gruesome assault on pregnant mother and baby

A 25-year-old man in Toledo, Ohio, has been indicted on 18 felony charges after allegedly kidnapping, raping, strangling, and torturing a woman who was 21 weeks pregnant.

Key Takeaways:

• Jamere Jones, 25, was indicted by a grand jury for allegedly kidnapping, raping, torturing, and strangling a pregnant woman over the course of two days in December. She was 21 weeks pregnant.

• Though the woman survived, doctors warn there could potentially be harm to her preborn child due to the extreme brutality of the attack.

• Pregnant women are known to be at a high risk for violence.

The Details:

On January 13, a Lucas County grand jury indicted 25-year-old Toledo resident Jamere Jones, directing multiple charges against him such as kidnapping, rape, felonious assault, and strangulation.

Court records indicate that Jones blocked off a doorway on December 30 and 31, confining the 21-weeks-pregnant woman within his house as he subjected her to repeated assaults, rapes, strangulation, and threats to gun her down with a rifle or burn her alive.

Jones purportedly doused the woman's head with rubbing alcohol and held a lighter to her, threatening to set her ablaze. He also pressed a loaded rifle against her chest, pledging to kill her before taking his own life.

He allegedly also pummeled her with his fists, a hammer, and assorted objects, and repeatedly strangled her — once so brutally, it left her unconscious. The victim required hospitalization following the attacks, with doctors cautioning of potential harm to her preborn child.

Toledo man charged with raping, strangling, threatening to kill pregnant woman held against her will

WTOL.com reports the indictments against Jones as follows:

• 3 counts of kidnapping, a first-degree felony

• 7 counts of rape, a first-degree felony

• 1 count of strangulation, a second-degree felony

• 3 counts of strangulation, a fourth-degree felony

• 2 counts of felonious assault, a second-degree felony (one with firearm specification)

• 1 count of attempted felonious assault, a third-degree felony

• 1 count of domestic violence, a fifth-degree felony

The judge set Jones' bond at $590,000, and mandated that he avoid all contact with the victim while surrendering any weapons.

The Big Picture:

Jones’ cruel attack on the vulnerable pregnant mother and her developing child mirrors wider trends of violence against pregnant women, frequently victimized by people they know. Pregnant and postpartum women are at a higher risk of homicide.

In many states (39 according to National Right to Life as of January 2024), laws "recognize the unlawful killing of an unborn child as homicide in at least some circumstances."

The Bottom Line:

Abortion advocates often frame such violence as justification for unrestricted abortion, claiming it allows women to escape from crisis pregnancies. However, not only does abortion fail to empower women, it murders an innocent child in the womb while leaving mothers to struggle with post-abortion trauma. 

Pro-life alternatives, such as pregnancy resource centers that offer ultrasounds, counseling, maternity homes, and material aid, support women and families with real assistance, helping to build a culture of life.