November 7, 1953: Doc Arrested When About to Repeat Crime

On November 6, 1953, Joyce Helen Ross, an unmarried 25-year-old woman from Spindale, North Carolina, lay dying in Shelby General Hospital in November of 1953. The young five-and-dime-store clerk told police that she had gone to Dr. Albert L. Ballenger, a 73-year-old general practitioner in Aiken County, South Carolina, for an abortion which had been perpetrated that day. 

Joyce died on November 7 from hemolytic streptococcus and gas bacillus due to attempted abortion. Extensive uterine lacerations had given the infection easy access to her blood stream.

Grok AI illustration of Ballenger's arrest

Police went to Ballenger's home to arrest him. In his home he had room dedicated to his medical practice, with a makeshift operating table and outdated medical supplies. He had no running water, no means of properly sterilizing instruments, and no recovery area. When police arrived, they found "a beautiful 17-year-old girl on the operating table." The girl was taken to a hospital for examination and aftercare.

A search of Ballenger's home found records showing records of dozens of abortions perpetrated on women, many from out-of-state. He charged $100 to $200 ($1,100 - $2,200 in 2025) for an abortion. He had graduated from The Medical College of South Carolina in 1905 and practiced for nearly 50 years before crossing paths with the unfortunate Joyce Ross. 

Ballenger was indicted for manslaughter in November of 1953. His three-day trial started on January 12, 1954. The defense claimed that Ballenger was providing aftercare for a miscarriage. The prosecution said that the lacerations in Joyce's uterus had been caused by instruments. Ballenger was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to five years in the South Carolina Penitentiary. Citing Ballenger's age and lack of prior arrests, the judge suspended the sentence to a three year probation and a $1,000 fine. Ballenger was released pending appeal but died of a heart attack in March of 1954 before the case could be retried.

Watch Whatever Happened to Dr. Ballenger? on YouTube.

Sources:

• Death certificate
• "S.C. Doctor Held in Death Of NC Woman," Columbia (NC) Record, November 10, 1953
• "73-Year Doctor Is Charged With Performing Abortion," Greenville (SC) News, November 11, 1953
• "Aiken Doctor Jailed For NC On Abortion Charge," Charlotte (NC) News, November 11, 1953
• Grok AI summary, October 25, 2025