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Jul 24, 2008 6:44 pm US/Central
Grand Jury Indicts TX Man For Unborn Child Death
Pam Harris
McKINNEY (CBS 11 News) ―
A Collin County grand jury sent a strong message today, to anyone accused of assaulting pregnant women. In one case, the woman lost her unborn child and the suspect now faces a murder indictment.
It's the first case of its kind in McKinney, since a law went into affect four years ago.
Back in May, Brian Christopher Canaday was officially charged with the murder of an unborn child.
Kyleen Wright, with Texans for Life, reacted by saying, "All these lives have been tragically altered as a result of his actions."
McKinney police aren't releasing details of the assault. But according to Collin County court documents Canaday, 22, thrust his knee into the abdomen of the biological mother, which later resulted in the miscarriage and death of an unborn child.
"An assault had occurred where a female was assaulted. And the end result that the baby was stillborn," said Scott Brewer, McKinney Police Department.
The documents also say Canaday allegedly tried to strangle the mother, his 22-year-old girlfriend, several times and at one point she blacked out. The young mother-to-be managed to escape but had a miscarriage the next day.
The murder charge against Canaday falls under a 2004 Texas penal code.
Pro-life supporters say the indictment by the Collin County Grand Jury sends a strong message. "There's no happy ending here," says Wright. "The best that we can hope for is that in the future people remember that this is a crime in Texas, that you will be held accountable for hurting the mom and the baby."
McKinney police would not confirm or deny if Canaday has a criminal record. He will likely go before a judge next month.
The 22-year-old woman who was allegedly assaulted was not available for comment.
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