WASHINGTON CO. DISTRICT ATTORNEY WILL NOT PURSUE ACTION IN HOHLT PARK CASE
Washington County District Attorney Julie Renken says she will not take further action on the case involving Sunday’s discovery of fetal remains at Hohlt Park.
pictured speaking outside the Washington County
Courthouse on May 20, 2022, says she will not
pursue further action on the case concerning the
discovery of a fetus buried at Hohlt Park.
Renken said in a statement this (Thursday) morning that upon reviewing the facts of the investigation, “there are no charges that can be brought under the law, and no felony offense was committed.”
Renken said she “cannot imagine the pain and desperation the mother of the child is experiencing” and hopes she “can eventually find peace in her grief.”
The fetus was found Sunday afternoon in a shallow grave at the park by Brenham police, after they received reports from witnesses about suspicious circumstances. They were told a young male and female, one of them holding a shovel, emerged from the woods and walked to the parking lot.
Police said on Monday, the “persons of interest” voluntarily came to the police headquarters to speak with investigators. The couple said they had gone to Baylor Scott & White Hospital to seek assistance prior to going to the park. Medical professionals delivered the stillborn fetus and returned the remains to the mother, who was identified as an adult.
State law and Texas Health and Safety Code says if the delivered fetus is under a certain threshold for weight and term of pregnancy, the remains may be released directly to the parents, provided they are addressed appropriately by the individual hospital policy.
The fetus was sent to the Fort Bend County Medical Examiners’ Office for autopsy.
No identities will be released due to statutory privacy concerns under medical care provisions and statutes.
Full statement from Washington County District Attorney Julie Renken:
The District Attorney’s Office has reviewed the facts of the tragic discovery of human remains at Hohlt Park this weekend, and we will not be taking any further action on the case. There are no charges that can be brought under the law, and no felony offense was committed. I cannot imagine the pain and desperation the mother of the child is experiencing, and hope that she can eventually find peace in her grief.
Losing a baby at any stage of pregnancy is painfully devastating. I lost my son at 5 months so I know for myself that was one of the worst and painful situation that I had ever experienced being a young girl at the time. I will continue to keep them in my prayers. I would hope that other people don’t continue to pass judgment on them. But show compassion instead of criticizing them.
Thank you to our county DA for the prompt decision. We are praying for this family in their grief.
I hope everyone will let these young people begin to heal. They don’t need to read any further negative comments about this tragedy. I feel like they have been through enough.
Has anyone thought to create a Go Fund Me page or other means of helping them provide a proper burial?