A 38-year-old woman has sued an IVF clinic after experiencing an unimaginable mix-up—she was implanted with the wrong embryo, leading her to give birth to a child who was not biologically related to her.
The lawsuit, which was officially filed on Tuesday, Feb. 18, in a Georgia state court, details how Krystena Murray “unknowingly and unwillingly carried a child through pregnancy who was not biologically related to her.” This shocking revelation only came to light after she delivered the baby boy, leaving her in emotional distress and disbelief.
The legal complaint further explains that after discovering the heartbreaking mistake, Murray was forced to relinquish custody of the child to his rightful biological parents after five months of caring for him. The emotional toll of this experience has deeply affected her, leading to claims of severe trauma and mental distress.
Murray, who works as a professional wedding photographer and resides in Savannah, had decided to pursue motherhood independently. She opted for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and selected a sperm donor who closely resembled her own physical traits. She specifically chose a white donor with dirty blond hair and blue eyes to ensure a genetic resemblance to herself and any future child.
Her treatment was conducted at Coastal Fertility Specialists, a medical facility that operates in both South Carolina and Georgia, specializing in assisted reproductive technology.
However, when Murray gave birth in December 2023, she immediately sensed that something was terribly wrong. Instead of the child resembling her or the selected donor, the newborn was, in her words, a “dark-skinned, African American baby.” This unexpected outcome left her in shock, fearing what would happen next.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Murray recounted the fear and anxiety that overwhelmed her upon realizing the mistake. She expressed how, in that moment, she was terrified that the baby would be taken from her and that she would lose the chance to be a mother altogether.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, she felt compelled to inform the IVF clinic. In February 2024, Murray’s attorney officially reached out to Coastal Fertility Specialists, bringing the shocking discovery to their attention.
Following the notification, the clinic quickly worked to identify the baby’s biological parents, who had also undergone fertility treatments through the facility. The parents, whose identities remain undisclosed in legal documents, conducted their own independent DNA test, which confirmed that the child indeed belonged to them.
With legal action initiated by the biological parents, Murray was required to hand over the baby through court proceedings. Describing the experience as “an agonizing day,” she voluntarily surrendered the child, marking one of the most painful moments of her life.
Now, Murray is taking legal action against the IVF clinic, citing negligence and other allegations related to the mix-up. She is seeking damages and has requested a jury trial to hold the clinic accountable for the devastating mistake that altered her life forever.