Unlicensed Midwife Found Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter in 2022 Death of Baby

A jury in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, this week found Brigitte Meckes guilty of several charges, including involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault, following the death of a newborn, according to a statement from Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry. The case revolves around Meckes’s involvement in a home birth in January 2022, during which she acted as an unlicensed midwife, according to the release. On Jan. 20, 2022, Pennsylvania State Police responded to the home of Amy and Drew Hoenigke in Sullivan County following a report of an infant’s death, according to a statement at the time Meckes was charged. Upon investigation, authorities determined that the newborn had died three days earlier, but the parents delayed contacting authorities. Their decision stemmed from fear that their 2-year-old child might be taken away by child protective services....