Elkton, MD – Operation Rescue has learned that abortionists Steven Chase Brigham and Nicola Irene Riley have been charged with murder related to the deaths of viable babies at an illegal secret abortion clinic that the pair operated in Elkton, Maryland.

Brigham is currently in the custody at the Camden County Jail in New Jersey and Riley was arrested and Riley is currently in the custody of the Salt Lake County Jail in Utah. Both are awaiting extradition to Maryland.

Brigham was charged with five counts of first-degree murder and five counts of second-degree murder. Riley was charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder. The charges are the result of a Grand Jury investigation. UPDATE: in addition, Brigham and Riley were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit murder.

While late-term abortions are not illegal in Maryland, those who kill viable babies killed in the commission of crimes can be charged with murder in that state.

Brigham operated a secret late-term abortion clinic in Elkton, Maryland, even though he had no license to practice in that state. He hired Riley to do late-term abortions there and at his abortion clinic in Baltimore. Brigham would start the late-term abortions at his office in New Jersey, then caravan the laboring women to Elkton where the abortions would be completed. The clandestine abortion scheme was discovered after a woman suffered a life-threatening botched abortion in August, 2010. When police raided the Elkton abortion clinic, they discovered the remains of 35 aborted baby, one of which was 33 weeks gestation. (Read more about this.)

Operation Rescue immediately organized grassroots efforts calling for charges against Brigham and Riley and worked behind the scenes to ensure that the case moved forward. Operation Rescue dug deeper and discovered that Riley had lied about her criminal background to gain licensure in three states. At the time of their arrests, Brigham and Riley were banned from doing abortions in any state.

“We have worked for over a year to make sure Brigham and Riley were brought to justice. We kept the story in the public eye, and followed up with police and prosecutors. This is a victory for the pro-life movement,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.

Please watch for developments on this is a breaking news story.

Below is a video produced by the Cecil Whig, an Elkton area newspaper. (Update: 12/30/11, 9:04 AM)

Washington, DC – Operation Rescue announces today that Kortney Blythe Gordon has been named as recipient of the 2011 Pro-life Person of the Year Malachi Award in recognition of her life-time achievements and dedication to the protection of the pre-born and ending abortion.

Kortney served as Field Director for Students for Life in America, a position that had her traveling across the nation training, equipping, and encouraging student pro-life leaders. She also served as the Director of Campus Life Tours with the Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust from September, 2006, to May, 2009. During her service to these organizations, Kortney distinguished herself as a dedicated leader who tirelessly advanced the Pro-life cause while touching the lives of many, many people. She was a close friend and cheerleader of the work of Operation Rescue.

Tragically, Kortney died in a car accident in October that also claimed the lives of her pre-born baby daughter, Sophy, and fellow SFLA staff member Jon Scharfenberger.

“While she is terribly missed, Kortney’s life’s work stands as a tribute to her warm, loving personality, her fierce dedication to protecting the defenseless, and her unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. We honor her work by posthumously awarding her with Operation Rescue’s 2011 Pro-life Person of the Year Malachi Award,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.

Honorable mention: Philadelphia District Attorney R. Seth Williams receives an honorable mention for his investigation and prosecution of abortionist Kermit Gosnell’s horrific and illegal late-term abortion and infanticide scheme. Williams’ 281-page Grand Jury Report courageously stripped the cloak of secrecy off governmental corruption that allowed Gosnell and other abortionists to operate without accountability for years and brought national attention to the issue of abortion abuses and corruption. Williams arrested and charged Gosnell and nine of his employees with hundreds of criminal counts ranging from murder to participating in a corrupt organization. So far, six of those charged have pled guilty – three to murder charges – with Gosnell facing a capital murder trial in 2013. William’s work has helped Pennsylvania to purge corruption and bring reforms that provide greater protections for women and hold abortion clinics accountable to meet minimum standards. In addition to the closure of Gosnell’s “house of horrors” mill, resulting abortion clinic inspections led to the closure of two additional Pennsylvania abortion clinics and two abortion clinics in Delaware connected to Gosnell.

Albuquerque, NM — Project Defending Life has confirmed that abortionist Bruce Ferguson is retiring on December 30th, 2011, and will no longer be performing abortions. His Albuquerque abortion clinic will also close. According to his website, he has been performing abortions for 30 years.

In a phone call, Ferguson told an undercover investigator that he was retiring due to his health, the health of his family, and his own his “sanity.” He stated, “Someone else needs to carry the burden now.” Ferguson also mentioned as a reason for his retirement a steady decline in abortion patients each year, which is a trend that is being seen nationally. (Watch a video featuring a recording of these statements below.)

Project Defending Life and Operation Rescue have been keeping the public informed about the dangerous conditions at two other Albuquerque abortion clinics. It appears that after receiving this life-saving information women are not flooding Bruce Ferguson’s office, but are opting out of abortion altogether.

“Abortion is not good for anyone, not for babies, not for women, and according to Bruce Ferguson, someone who would know, abortion is not good for the doctors performing them,” stated Bud Shaver, spokesperson for Project Defending Life. “We are happy to learn that our efforts to inform women of the dangers of abortion are having an impact and that fewer women are aborting their babies.”

Operation Rescue learned earlier this year that Ferguson had been seeking out-of-state employment as a part-time abortionist.

“As abortionists like Ferguson quit, retire, or are stripped of their licenses, they are not being replaced,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “It sounds like Ferguson has called it quits, but we need to remain vigilant because, with the shortage of abortionists, Ferguson could turn up somewhere else. Given his apparent emotional state, that would be dangerous for women.”

Project Defending Life is committed to serving the pregnant women of New Mexico and is continuing their effort to expose how abortion destroys all the lives involved in this horrific procedure.

“In 2011 our prayers and efforts to end abortion in New Mexico are becoming a reality. This is great news for the women and pre-born children of New Mexico. Abortion bears many consequences and one less ‘doctor’ to provide them is a benefit to all women,” stated Fr. Stephen Imbarrato, Director of Project Defending Life. “In fact, this is the second abortionist this month to retire and close down in the state of New Mexico.”

Earlier this month, Santa Fe abortionist Lucia Cies retired. The closure of her abortion clinic made Santa Fe an abortion-free community.