Share this @internewscast.com

OSSIPEE, N.H. — A New Hampshire man appeared in court Monday on charges that he killed a pregnant woman and her unborn child by means of multiple blunt force injuries, the first time the state has charged someone with murder in the death of a fetus.

William Kelly, 28, appeared in Carroll County Superior Court in Ossipee with his lawyer, Caroline Smith. He did not address the judge. Smith said she planned to file paperwork that Kelly was waiving his arraignment and pleading not guilty. An email seeking comment was left for Smith.

Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Mitchell Weinberg determined that Christine Falzone, 33, was about 35 to 37 weeks pregnant at the time of her death in December.

The Legislature passed a bill in 2017 that defines a fetus at 20 weeks of development and beyond as a person for purposes of criminal prosecution of murder. Republican Gov. Chris Sununu signed the bill into law. It took effect in 2018.

Kelly’s case is the first time the state had charged someone with murder in the death of a fetus, said Michael Garrity, a spokesperson for the attorney general’s office.

Kelly was indicted by a Carroll County grand jury on Friday on two counts of second-degree murder. He recklessly caused the deaths of Falzone and her fetus, according to the indictment.

Lawyers said they were waiting on forensic test results. They agreed to schedule a hearing in June and a potential trial date in 2025.

Kelly, who was being held without bail, has several criminal convictions. The most recent was for assault in 2019, police said.

Kelly initially was arrested in December on a single second-degree murder charge connected to Falzone’s death.

Police said they found Falzone unconscious and not breathing at the Ossipee home she shared with Kelly. It was not immediately known if Kelly was the father of the unborn child.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Former Cardinals Pro Bowl lineman Luis Sharpe dead at 65

Former Pro Bowl Lineman Luis Sharpe of the Cardinals Passes Away at 65

TEMPE, Ariz. — Luis Sharpe, renowned for being a three-time Pro Bowl…
Iliamna Volcano in Alaska 'rumbling' after being inactive for a century

Alaska’s Iliamna Volcano Shows Signs of Activity After 100 Years of Dormancy

(NewsNation) — A volcano in Alaska that last erupted in 1867 is…
Trump reveals NATO sale to boost arms to Ukraine as Putin launches overnight maternity hospital strike

Trump Announces NATO Agreement to Increase Arms Supply to Ukraine Amid Putin’s Overnight Attack on Maternity Hospital

President Donald Trump announced a fresh NATO agreement on Thursday night that…
New Mexico brute Adlai Mestre allegedly shot parents, teen sister and family dog to death -- and dragged their corpses to ravine to 'bury them'

Tragic Incident in New Mexico: Adlai Mestre Accused of Killing Family and Dog, Attempting to Conceal Bodies in Ravine

A violent individual is accused of fatally shooting his parents, teenage sister,…
Nighttime view of a city with smoke rising from a building fire.

Tragic Blaze at 26-Story Apartment Block in Turkey Claims Three Lives, Including an Infant

AT least three people including a three-month-old baby have died after a…
DOJ drops charges against Utah surgeon accused of injecting fake COVID-19 shots and destroying $28K of real vaccines

US Government Drops Charges Against Utah Doctor Accused of Administering Fake COVID-19 Vaccines and Wasting $28,000 Worth of Real Ones

The Justice Department has decided to dismiss the charges against a Utah…
Parents face possible arrest, steep fines in military town's tough new approach to combat youth crime

Military Town Implements Strict Measures to Tackle Youth Crime, Including Potential Arrests and Fines for Parents

To curb rising youth violence, city leaders in Fayetteville, North Carolina, are…
Valley woman returns home months after fiery I-10 crash rescue

Local woman safely returns home months following dramatic I-10 crash recovery

Asharie Cheatham suffered burns to nearly a third of her body when…
Pope Leo XIV gives autographed jersey to White Sox player from 2005 World Series team

Pope Leo XIV Presents Signed Jersey to Member of the 2005 White Sox World Series Team

In a reversal of roles, a fan has signed a jersey for…
Pam Bondi Pfizer Conflict: Ties to Big Pharma

Pam Bondi and Pfizer: Potential Connections to the Pharmaceutical Industry

Pam Bondi, Donald Trump’s pick for Attorney General, has been revealed to…
Accused killer Vance Boelter hints at motive in Post jailhouse interview

Vance Boelter, accused of murder, suggests motive during jail interview with the Post

The man charged with the politically motivated murder of a Minnesota lawmaker…
FX's "Alien: Earth" expands its universe with a companion podcast and immersive experiences

FX’s “Alien: Earth” Expands Universe with Companion Podcast and Immersive Experiences

LOS ANGELES — FX is offering its fans a closer look into…