Two Maryland doctors face murder charges related to abortions performed on late-term fetuses that were viable , authorities said Friday . Steven Brigham and Nicola Riley are in jails in New Jersey and Utah , respectively , awaiting extradition hearings to bring them back to Maryland , police in Elkton , Maryland , said in a news release . The two face identical charges -- five counts each of first-degree murder , five of second-degree murder and one of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder . The cases did not fall into the exceptions for aborted fetuses under Maryland law , Kerwin Miller , the deputy state 's attorney for Cecil County , told CNN . Defense attorney Tom Brown told CNN by e-mail that Brigham `` has fully cooperated with this investigation '' and has not `` violated any Maryland laws . '' Another lawyer for Brigham , Norman Wilson , declined to comment . Sharon Krevor-Weisbaum , an attorney at a Baltimore-based law firm that is representing Riley , said , `` We believe that the criminal charges are without merit , ( and ) we believe it is inappropriate for ( Riley ) to be held without bond . '' The investigation began August 13 , 2010 , when Riley brought a woman into an Elkton hospital due to a `` complication resulting from a medical procedure , '' police said . The woman had driven from New Jersey to Maryland for an abortion , investigators later determined . Days later , Elkton police searched the abortion clinic where Brigham and Riley work and found several fetuses `` in a freezer chest . '' The fetuses were taken to a medical examiner 's office in Baltimore , according to the news release . The indictment warrant was issued Wednesday , following an investigation . Camden , New Jersey , police took Brigham into custody `` without incident '' later that night . The 55-year-old doctor has since been held at the Camden County jail . Riley , 46 , was also detained without incident Wednesday evening by the Unified Police Department in Utah . She is being held at the Salt Lake City jail , ahead of an anticipated extradition hearing , Elkton police said . Miller , who is the chief homicide prosecutor for Cecil County , said more details on the case will not be released until Tuesday .
The doctors were arrested Tuesday in Utah and New Jersey . They face five counts of second -degree murder and five of first -degree murder . A prosecutor says the charges stem from abortions on viable , late-term fetuses .