Criminal Patience
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Sep 26, 2025 Patience Russo shares her harrowing journey from miscarriage to conviction after police questioned her Facebook post. Arrested under a century-old abortion law, she recounts the emotional turmoil of losing her baby and facing charges. Caroline Kitchener, a Washington Post reporter, discusses the legal implications and the misapplication of justice surrounding Patience's case. Together, they reveal how Patience's fight for justice led to a landmark ruling that ultimately cleared her name, shedding light on issues of reproductive rights and legal accountability.
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Facebook Post Led To Police Visit
- Patience Russo posted about burying her miscarried baby Abel and put a small cross in the yard.
- Sheriff deputies later arrived asking about the cross and recorded her saying she had a miscarriage.
Failed Access Led To Self-Directed Steps
- Patience tried to get an abortion in Reno but lacked money and transportation and later tried cinnamon pills.
- She miscarried at home, wrapped the baby, and buried him with a cross.
Officer's Conviction Drove The Case
- A babysitter showed Deputy Jacqueline Mitchum pregnancy photos and a cross, prompting Mitchum to pursue a warrant despite superiors' doubts.
- Mitchum felt a personal conviction that Patience had killed the baby and pushed the investigation forward.