Elkton, MD — Two abortionists with troubled pasts are set to break new legal ground in the first ever case of abortionists being charged with murder for aborting pre-born babies.

Steven Chase Brigham of New Jersey and Nicola Irene Riley of Utah have been charged with murder in the deaths of viable babies in a bi-state late-term abortion ring. Additional details concerning the charges and the grand jury investigation that led to them are expected to be released this week.

Both Brigham and Riley, who are being held without bail in their home states, are awaiting extradition hearings this week that will send them back to Maryland to face a total of a dozen murder charges. Riley is scheduled for her initial appearance in court Tuesday at 8:30 AM.

“This is a ground-breaking case that could have implications across the nation,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “Not only could Brigham’s abortion empire of abortion clinics operating in four states collapse, but it could blaze a legal trail that could eventually lead to major reforms in abortion laws. We will continue to closely monitor and report on this case.”

In September, 2010, Operation Rescue filed a complaint with the State Attorney in Elkton, Maryland, asking for criminal charges against Brigham, and launched grassroots efforts to bring him to justice.

Operation Rescue obtained public records, including interviews given to the Maryland Board of Physicians (MDBP) by Riley and others involved in a horrific botched abortion that brought Brigham’s illegal abortion practices to light. Operation Rescue launched an investigation into Brigham’s and Riley’s backgrounds, releasing several reports documenting shoddy abortion practices and criminal histories.

The following investigative reports are available online:

Botched Abortion Nightmare

This report contains disturbing details of Brigham’s illegal late-term abortion operation and the botched abortion incident that launched the murder investigation. Based on open records and sworn statements from Riley and others.

New Illegal Abortion Cases Surface While Brigham Denies Board Can Discipline

More open records obtained by Operation Rescue reveal details of additional cases of illegal late-term abortions began in New Jersey by Brigham and completed in Maryland on babies from 24 to 33 weeks gestation on patients J.P and M.L. It further explains why Brigham’s bi-state abortion scheme was illegal.

NJ AG Forcefully Responds To Brigham’s Motion for Dismissal in Illegal Abortion Case

This is an analysis of Brigham’s defense against charges brought against him by the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners in September, 2010, related to the botched abortion of patient D.B., his unlicensed practice of medicine in Maryland, and his violations in New Jersey where he was banned from initiating abortions after 14 weeks.

Investigation reveals Brigham’s AWS abortion chain is a haven for rapist, other criminals

This exposé shows documented evidence that Brigham’s American Women’s Services abortion clinic chain is operated by shoddy abortionists with dangerous pasts.

Brigham Abortionist Riley Did Federal Prison Time, Records Show

Based on open records obtained exclusively by Operation Rescue, this exposé details Riley’s criminal conviction as ringleader of an identity theft/credit card fraud ring during her service in the U.S. Army, and reveals that she lied in order to gain licensure in three states.

Other stories about Brigham and Riley are documented at http://www.operationrescue.org/category/brigham/.

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.