COLUMBUS, Ga., Sept. 27 (UPI) -- The mother and two cousins of a Columbus, Ga., teenage girl have been charged with trying to induce an abortion by forcing her to drink turpentine.
Police were investigating an alleged sexual assault of the unidentified 16-year-old when the girl told her school guidance counselor her mother and two female cousins had forced her to drink turpentine twice in the last month, the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reported Wednesday.
Police spokeswoman Sgt. Debra Bohannon said it isn't known if the turpentine had any toxic effects on the girl or the fetus.
"There's no medical evidence that would support you could induce an abortion by giving her turpentine," Bohannon said. "Still, it's not made to ingest. It's not good to ingest."
The teen's mother, Rozelletta Blackshire, 44, and two cousins from Eufaula, Ala., Shonda Blackshire, 26, and Monica Johnson, 28, were arrested and charged with criminal abortion.
The teenager is in protective custody, the newspaper said.
