Family member says Colo. shooting victim will be paralyzed, suffered miscarriage

Ashley Moser, the mother of Veronica Moser-Sullivan, suffered a miscarriage and will be paralyzed as a result of the shooting at Century 16 theaters in Aurora, Colo., a family member said. / KCNC

(CBS News) CENTENNIAL, Colo. - Ashley Moser, a victim of the Colorado movie theater shootings who lost her six-year-old daughter, has suffered a miscarriage and will be paralyzed because of her injuries, according to her family.

MaryEllen Hansen told CBS News that her niece will be paralyzed from the waist down, but the family hoped she would keep the full use of her arms.

13-year-old Aurora survivor tried to help others
Woman seriously injured in CO shooting miscarries

Moser's family said in a statement to CBS News on Saturday that she was recovering from an additional surgery, and her miscarriage was a direct result of the trauma she had received. Moser was shot in the neck and abdomen.

Moser and her partner, Jamison Toews, had just seen the baby's ultrasound picture hours before the shooting, CBS Denver reported. The fetus was eight weeks old at the time of the shooting.

Hansen told the Associated Press that the funeral for Moser's daughter, Veronica Moser-Sullivan, has been delayed until her mother is well enough to attend, and no date has been set.

23 Photos

The Aurora shooting victims

Moser and her daughter, Veronica Moser-Sullivan, had attended "The Dark Knight Rises" screening in Aurora, Colo. with three others, including 13-year-old Kaylan, whose last name has not been revealed for privacy purposes.

Veronica Moser Sullivan

/ CBS News/Sullivan Family

Kaylan attempted to give CPR to the 6-year-old until the police arrived. She told CBS News that the event was "terrifying, because I couldn't see...I couldn't see the person who had done it."

Hansen spoke to CBS News after attending Holmes' hearing today on behalf of her niece. Holmes was charged with 24 counts of murder and 116 counts of attempted murder, in addition to other charges, for allegedly killing 12 people and injuring 58 others during the Aurora, Colo. shooting.

"Her whole life is going to change completely as well from that night," she said.

(Watch MaryEllen Hansen speak to CBS News about her niece's progress on the left.)

Hansen added the shooter had an "evil, diabolical presence" during the court appearance.

The miscarriage was not counted as one of the murder charges because homicide charges in Colorado only apply to those "who had been born and alive," CBS Denver reported.

"Legally it doesn't fit the definition," defense attorney Karen Steinhauser, a former prosecutor and current adjunct professor at the University of Denver, explained to CBS Denver.

19 Photos

The Colorado massacre suspect

[quiltfanjan]

To to www.helpash.org to get in touch with her family

[texasfirewheel]

I understand the reasoning behind blaming the mother for having her child out so late at night and at a violent movie too. Those who feel that way are shielding themselves (in their minds) from tragedy by saying "I'd never do that so I'm safe."

Of course, the blame rests on the shoulders on the shooter. But I think the theater also shares some guilt for not having any security. A security guard posted at each exit would might well have prevented this tragedy from happening. And I'm sure the lawyers have already lined up to sue the theater for its negligence.

[cassiesellsscentsy]

My name is Cassie Kelly. I am so touched and heartbroken for Ashley and her family. I would like to host a fundraiser for her and her children and donate 95% of my commission directly to her. I need help getting in touch with her and her family. If you can help please share my info. My website is www.cassandrakelly.scentsy.us and my email and phone number can be found there. Thank you so much and I will continue saying many prayers for her.

[IAMCS]

To those who wish to attack someone who has been victimized in such a horrific way, I say just be thankful it didn't happen to you or your family. How horrible it is to suggest this lady a bad mother because she took her daughter with her to a show. No way anyone could think such a nightmare would become of that. SHAME on YOU!

[thetruthwillout]

It's cases such as this that you have to ask why one family has to endure so much suffering? She loses her unborn child and 6-year-old daughter to a murderer; and she is paralyzed from the waist down. Her family is hoping she will regain the use of her hands. Her husband is okay -- how must he feel? An innocent evening at the movies; family night out. It goes beyond tragic. How many other lives are changed forever? This kind of thing has a ripple effect; everyone connected to anyone in that movie theater has felt the effects of one person's tragic and despicable act. We, as a nation, have felt the effects. It's just terribly, terribly sad. God be with these people and their friends and families.

[jcnbma]

This is horrible. I'd like to see that guy gutted like a fish in the public square.

[tapthebrakes]

jcnbma It is horrible, but unless you are a victim or were related to the victims, don't you think your comment (if you really mean it or would do it) is just as bad as the killer? I can definitely see how the victims could feel that way. I might too. Most likely someone will give me crap for saying this, but I hope this monster either gets life or is executed, but to gut him like a fish?? C'mon! Only the people directly impacted by this should be allowed to feel that kind of rage. Otherwise you are no better than he is and worse it shows you are capable of doing what he has done or even worse.

[MegaProcrastination]

I wouldn't sit one of my six-year-olds down in front of a Batman movie. However, I wouldn't have hesitated for an instance to have one out at that time of night. It's summer, there's no school the next morning. A late night is a grand adventure for a kid--I know first-hand from the times my parents had me out late. Goodness knows how many times we ended up at the state fair or visiting friends or relatives until midnight or later. For crying out loud, having your kid out late doesn't make you a bad parent.

Also, that's completely not the topic. What's important here is how much this young woman lost. That's downright tragic and in no way her fault.

[FreddySanford]

Her "PARTNER" Jamison Teows????? Partner? No, you mean her BOYFRIEND.

Sad sad story, but for the life of me I will never understand why she had a 6 year old child at a midnight showing of an ULTRA VIOLENT movie. Then again, she is young and careless like most young people

[well_I_say]

Freddy is probably one of those conservative, right-wing, bible thumping tea-baggers. Liberal minded people would accept that a mom knows their own child and what is right for them. A liberal minded person would accept individual choice and freedom to decide what defines a family.

[LosAngelesCA]

If I hear/see one more comment judging anyone at that theater, I will start crying for our country. We have freedom of choice in our country and it is none of your business what another person does.

It is a tragedy that this young woman lost her child, miscarried a baby and is now paralyzed, all because she wanted to go to a movie.

She does not need to hear your negativity so shut the x x x x up.

I PRAY FOR A MIRACLE. NO ONE DESERVES THIS.

[Solarrays247]

Thank you! I agree with you completely!

[chonder2]

I most of these comments have gotten taken the wrong way.

I think there are NO SIDES in this one.

The first thing I will admit I thought when hearing the details was that the child shouldn't have been out that late.The urge to protect that child and hell,all kids there and anywhere should have been the first priority for any parent/grand parent.
I kept thinking about it and the same question kept coming up,how far does a family or parent have to go to protect their loved ones in public?
And should a family be out at midnight,at a Batman movie theatre show at the mall??
Or should they be at the Leather and Lace strip club parking lot at midnight?
Where do you go next??What point in time do the odds go up that your family will be gunned down in a mass killing??

Were those Batman movie patrons wrong for being out past X-oclock at night or is there another problem???