Georgia abortionist extradited from Germany to U.S. for prosecution after 11 years on the run
A Georgia abortionist who fled the country to avoid police in 2003 has finally been taken into custody and returned to the U.S. to face charges of illegal abortions, drug violations and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
Dr. Charles Rossman was arrested last year in Germany after eleven years of evading U.S. and European authorities and INTERPOL. He was returned to Georgia on January 10 and is being held without bail at the Lowndes County Jail.
Rossman was originally investigated by the Valdosta Police on May 9, 2003 after responding to a 911 call from a woman at his abortion facility. When police arrived, they had to break in – Rossman had fled the scene, locking the doors behind him. Inside, they found the 23-year-old woman in the process of delivering a baby boy. Rossman had given the woman abortion pills at 31 weeks pregnant, and left her there alone. Both mother and baby were rushed to the hospital.
Within a few days, police gathered enough evidence against Rossmann to obtain a warrant for his arrest on one count of criminal late-term abortion. However, by that time, he had already left the country. Later, warrants were issued for additional illegal abortions Rossman had performed, as well as for alleged drug violations and evading arrest.
According to Police Chief Brian Childress, Rossmann spent more than ten years running from authorities across Europe before INTERPOL caught up with him in Germany and apprehended him with the help of German police.
“The Southern Judicial Circuit Office of the District Attorney was extremely instrumental in the investigation of Rossmann and his return to the United States,” said the Valdosta Police Department in a statement. “Also, the FBI along with INTERPOL and the Department of Justice-Office of International Affairs, continued to work this case throughout the years and continued to investigate information collected internationally which subsequently led to the arrest of Rossmann.”
Troy Newman, president of Operation Rescue, has been following Rossmann’s case since 2003, and had this to say about his arrest and extradition: “Enforcement has always been the weak link when it comes to abortion laws. But Rossman’s apprehension shows that when authorities are motivated, dangerous abortionists can be apprehended and prosecuted, even if it takes years. There is an object lesson in this for abortionists all over the country who are breaking the law.”
Newman compared Rossman’s callous treatment of the woman who sparked the case in the first place to convicted murderer and abortionist Kermit Gosnell. “Rossman is yet another example of how abortionists often operate without any concern whatsoever for the law or the lives of women they routinely exploit,” said Newman. “Last year, the murder trial of illegal abortionist Kermit Gosnell raised the question of whether Gosnell was an outlier. The Rossman arrest is yet another example of how illegal and dangerous practices pervade the abortion cartel in this country. The worrisome fact is that Rossman and Gosnell are not alone.”
Newman, whose group was present throughout the Gosnell trial, said his group would monitor Rossman’s trial just as closely. “After all these years, it’s time for Rossman to finally be held accountable for his despicable criminal conduct,” Newman said.