Three Norfolk residents have been charged after a woman allegedly helped her daughter abort a fetus before burning and burying it.

Jessica Burgess, 41, is charged in Madison County District Court with performing or attempting an abortion at greater than 20 weeks, performing an abortion when not a licensed doctor, removing/concealing/abandoning a dead human body, concealing the death of another person and false reporting.

Celeste Burgess, 18, is charged with removing/concealing/abandoning a dead human body, concealing the death of another person and false reporting. She had pled not guilty to the charges.

Tanner Barnhill, 22, is charged with attempted concealing the death of another person.

According to court records, on April 29, a Norfolk Police investigator interviewed the Burgesses and learned that Celeste Burgess gave birth to a stillborn baby at home in a bathtub/shower a week prior. She reportedly told the investigator she and Jessica placed the fetus inside a bag in the back of their van parked on their property.

The Burgesses also told the investigator that Barnhill helped them bury the fetus on his property. Norfolk Police later learned from Barnhill that the women tried to burn the fetus prior to burying it.

On June 7, the investigator received Facebook messages between the Burgesses that were obtained as part of a search warrant. The messages from April 20 reportedly showed messages were exchanged between the two that suggested Jessica Burgess obtained abortion pills for her daughter and gave her instructions on how to take them.

“(Celeste Burgess) talks about how she can’t wait to get the ‘thing’ out of her body and reaffirms with (Jessica Burgess) that they will burn the evidence afterwards,” the detective wrote in court records.

Jessica Burgess was released from jail on June 27 after posting a personal recognizance bond in the amount of $10,000. She is scheduled to appear in Madison County District Court at 9 a.m. Sept. 2.

Celeste Burgess was released on July 21 after posting a personal recognizance bond in the amount of $20,000. She is scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. Aug. 29.

Barnhill has pled no contest to his charge and was found guilty. He is scheduled to appear in Madison County Court for sentencing at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 23.