Four-State Abortion Empire Crumbles Following Botched Abortion

September 7, 2010
By Kathleen Gilbert
VOORHEES TWP, New Jersey

(LifeSiteNews.com) - The empire of a troubled New Jersey abortionist who headed a four-state abortion ring is slowly crumbling after Maryland began investigating the setup following a teenager's botched abortion. In addition to unveiling the illegality of the setup, the investigation resulted in one raid where police discovered a gruesome display of 35 frozen unborn children preserved in jars.

Stephen Chase Brigham is the owner of American Women's Services, which operated 15 abortion facilities in states including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland. Brigham's operation involved at least two other abortionists, George Shepard, Jr., of Delaware and Nicola I. Riley of Utah, whose Maryland licenses have both been suspended for their role in Brigham's business.

The Maryland Board of Physicians issued a cease and desist order against Brigham August 25 after concluding that the abortionist had been routinely skirting New Jersey law by bringing clients to his facilities in Maryland, where he does not have a license to practice. According to the Board, Brigham was in the habit of performing the first phase of the procedure, dilating the patient's cervix, in New Jersey; however, because his clinics did not meet safety standards to perform the whole procedure there, Brigham would then direct the patients to drive down to Maryland to have the abortion completed. the rest