Marilyn Jean Reitz and her cousin, Gloria June Weisbrod, had grown up in Fresno, California. Marilyn is listed in the 1950 census as a farmer, her father, Henry, as a machinist in a packing company, and her mother, Elsie, as a clerk in a dry goods store.
In contrast to this prosaic life, Gloria was more daring. An accordion player, she had played a stint in Alaska in 1952. By mid-1953, she was playing at a café in Long Beach and planning to go to Korea to play for servicemembers stationed there.
Around March of 1953, when Marilyn was 21 and Gloria was 22, the young women wanted to be closer to Los Angeles. Marilyn moved to Inglewood and Gloria to Compton.
On July 21, 1953, Marilyn went to Gloria's house, distraught. She told her cousin that she was about nine weeks pregnant and had drunk something to try to cause an abortion. The baby's father, a sailor, had until recently been stationed at San Diego, but was no longer there. Marilyn begged Gloria to help her.
Instead of seeking out one of the many doctors doing abortions in the Los Angeles area, the two decided that Gloria was up to the task. She took some sort of instrument and went about trying to dislodge the fetus.
Unfortunately, Marilyn soon told Gloria, "I think I'm going to faint," and collapsed.
Gloria, caring more about her cousin's life than her own freedom and reputation, called for help from rescue. The first to arrive at the house were firemen, who used a device to administer oxygen. When the police arrived, Gloria admitted to having performed the abortion on her cousin.
Marilyn was pronounced dead on arrival at Physicians and Surgeons Hospital in Compton. She had most likely died from an air embolism.
Gloria was arrested at 12:25 am on the 22nd, charged with suspicion of murder.
Marilyn's parents, Henry Jr. and Elsie Reitz, travelled from Fresno to Compton to identify their daughter's body.
After a few months of delays during which she was free on a $3,000 bond, Gloria entered a guilty plea for performing an illegal abortion. She was sentenced to three years on probation.
Watch Cousin's Help Proves Fatal on YouTube.
Sources:
- "Jail Woman for Abortion Death Role," (Long Beach) Press-Telegram, July 22, 1935
- "Ex Fresno Girl Is Held In Illegal Operation Death," The Fresno Bee, July 23, 1953
- "Death Ruled Homicide," (Monrovia CA) Daily News-Post, July 29, 1953
- "Termed Responsible For Abortion Death," Colton (CA) Courier, July 29, 1953
- "Illegal Operation Case Continued," Los Angeles Times, August 4, 1953
- "Held For Trial," The Fresno Bee, August 13, 1953
- "Probation Given in Death Case," Los Angeles Times, December 19, 1953
- "Girl granted probation in abortion case," (Los Angeles) Daily News, December 19, 1953
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