Man Only Charged With One Count of Murder for Killing Pregnant Girlfriend, Unborn Baby

Pro-life advocates expressed dismay after Gregory Groom, 22, was charged with a single count of murder for the death of his pregnant girlfriend, 18-year-old Kylee Monteiro, and her 11-week-old unborn child, whose remains were discovered buried on his property.

The case, unfolding in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, has sparked outrage among those who argue the unborn child deserves separate recognition under the law.

According to a report by MSN on August 20, Groom was arraigned on Wednesday following the recovery of Monteiro’s body on Tuesday night. Prosecutors revealed that Monteiro was 11 weeks pregnant when she was allegedly killed, with Groom facing charges including murder, assault and battery on a pregnant person, and witness intimidation.

However, the charge sheet reflects only one murder count, a detail that has fueled debate among pro-life groups who cite the Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004, which recognizes the baby as a separate victim in certain violent crimes under federal law. States laws are a patchwork ranging from full legal protection and justice for unborn babies to no legal recognition.

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Investigators learned from Monteiro’s sister, Faith, that Kylee sent a chilling text the night she disappeared on August 7, stating that Groom “threw me on the ground and pulled my hair and strangled me” and that her “phone is at 4% and if I die, it was Greg.” This message, sent before her remains were found in a 5-foot grave on Groom’s 25-acre property, underscored the violence that ended both her life and that of her unborn baby.

The community mourned Monteiro’s loss with a candlelit vigil held Saturday at 7 p.m. at 401 Winthrop St. in Rehoboth, as noted by CBS Boston.

“I know this is not the ending we all wanted but this is closure for us and this gives Kylee the opportunity to rest in peace with her mom and her baby,” her sister Kitty Monteiro wrote on Facebook, reflecting the family’s grief over both lives lost.

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn told reporters after the arraignment that it is “still too early” to determine the motive, according to ABC News, but the investigation continues.

Pro-life advocates argue that the single murder charge overlooks the distinct life of the unborn child, a stance reinforced by the 2004 federal law that allows for separate charges when an unborn baby is harmed or killed. The case has reignited calls for stronger legal protections for the unborn, with many questioning why Groom faces only one count despite the dual loss.

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