The woman who was the victim of a sexual assault is not comatose, The Arizona Republic reported on January 18. The San Carlos Apache Tribe had previously said she had been in a coma but the family's lawyer said that was incorrect, The Republic reported. A comatose citizen of the San Carlos Apache Tribe was the victim of a sexual assault that resulted in her becoming impregnated. The 29-year-old woman has been in a vegetative state for more than a decade, Chairman Terry Rambler said in a press release posted by Native News Online. She had been a patient at Hacienda Healthcare in Phoenix, Arizona, where the sexual assault is believed to have occurred. “On behalf of the tribe, I am deeply shocked and horrified at the treatment of one of our members," Rambler said in the press release. "When you have a loved one committed to palliative care, when they are most vulnerable and dependent upon others, you trust their caretakers. Sadly, one of her caretakers was not to trusted and took advantage of her. It is my hope that justice will be served.” The Phoenix police department is investigating the assault, Chief Alejandro Benally said at a media briefing on Wednesday. DNA samples of male workers at Hacienda Healthcare are being taken as part of the investigation. "This should not happen anywhere, especially among our most vulnerable citizens who alarmingly experience higher rates of sexual violence compared with abled-body populations," Alegra Roybal, a coordinator with the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women, said in a press release. The woman gave birth to a boy on December 29, according to news reports. He is in the care of family members, an attorney said. “The family would like me to convey that the baby boy has been born into a loving family and will be well cared for,” attorney John Micheaels said in a statement quoted by The Associated Press. The woman has been in the care of Hacienda Healthcare since she was three years old, 3TV/CBS 5 reported, citing court documents.
Read More on the Story
Woman in Coma Who Gave Birth to Baby Boy is a Tribal Citizen of San Carlos Apache Tribe
(Native News Online January 9, 2019)Court records reveal more about life of Phoenix woman in vegetative state who gave birth (3TV/CBS 5 January 9, 2019)
Phoenix police ask for public's help finding suspect in Hacienda Healthcare investigation (3TV/CBS5 January 9, 2019)
Male workers face DNA testing after comatose woman had baby (The Associated Press January 9, 2019)
Family of Arizona woman in vegetative state who gave birth is 'traumatized and in shock' (NBC News January 9, 2019)
Phoenix police: Finding incapacitated patient's rapist 'highest priority' (The Arizona Republic January 9, 2019)
A woman who was in a vegetative state for years gave birth. Police want DNA from men who work at the facility (CNN January 10, 2019)
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