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Mom won’t face murder charges after crack causes unborn baby’s death

Posted at 12:45 AM, Dec 21, 2013
and last updated 2013-12-21 00:48:14-05

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WTVR) -- A mother whose drug use caused her unborn baby to die will not face murder charges.

WCAV in Charlottesville reports that Garan Drymond was arrested early Thursday morning and charged with possession of cocaine.

Court documents reveal that she was taken to the hospital in May after telling emergency crews she had been smoking cocaine and drinking for the past two days. That's when her child was stillborn.

Over the summer, an autopsy found the cause of death was from that cocaine and alcohol in its system, which made it a homicide.

However, since the child did not have a heartbeat at birth, there is no law on the books in Virginia that can hold her accountable for her baby’s death.

As a result, Drymond is only facing a felony charge for possessing cocaine since prosecutors cannot charge her with homicide.

Drymond is scheduled to appear in court again in February.