A 27-year-old woman, Korena Roberts (left), was to be arraigned on Monday on a murder charge in Snively's death. -- PHOTO: AP
HILLSBORO (Oregon) - A WOMAN accused of killing her pregnant friend is believed to have cut open the 21-year-old's abdomen to take her baby and pass it off as her own, investigators said on Monday.
The infant also died, but it could not be determined whether he was alive when he was taken from Heather Snively's womb, the Washington County sheriff's department said in a statement.
About the case
Investigators said Monday that Roberts, who has two children younger than 10, had been telling friends and relatives for months that she was pregnant, and told many people she would have twins.
Ms Snively had recently moved to Oregon from Maryland because her boyfriend and father of the child had found a better job.
A 27-year-old woman, Korena Roberts, has been charged with murder in Ms Snively's death. She appeared in court Monday but did not enter a plea.
A call to the emergency dispatcher on Friday brought emergency workers to Roberts' house in the Portland suburb of Beaverton.
Workers found blood on the floor and Roberts' boyfriend trying to revive the infant.
Investigators said Roberts claimed the baby was hers. At the emergency room, doctors, who were unable to revive the baby, determined that Roberts had not given birth.
Police said they returned to Roberts' home and found the hidden body. Roberts' boyfriend is cooperating and does not face charges, the sheriff's office said.
A medical examiner said Monday that Ms Snively, who was in the last trimester of her pregnancy, died of blunt and sharp force injuries.
'At this time, it has not been determined if she died because of head wounds she received or as a result of cutting injuries she received to her abdomen,' the sheriff's office said.
A grand jury will hear the case, the prosecutor said, and Roberts might also face charges in the infant's death - if lab tests determine he ever took a breath.
'The issue is was the child alive at all at any point in time,' said Washington County District Attorney Bob Herman. 'This is certainly unusual for its circumstances and nature.'-- AP
