Milwaukee woman convicted of cutting fetus from pregnant woman, killing both

A Milwaukee woman has been convicted of cutting a full-term fetus from its mother's womb in an attempt to steal the baby.

Annette Morales-Rodriguez, 34, was found guilty of two counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the October 2011 deaths of Maritza Ramirez-Cruz and fetus, according to the Associated Press.

Morales-Rodriguez reportedly gave a videotaped interview to police in which she explained that she was desperate to give her boyfriend a son but that she couldn't "stay pregnant."

The Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel quoted a next-door neighbor, Keila Perez, as saying Morales-Rodriguez had been "talking about pregnancy for months," and buying a car seat, a changing table and baby clothes. She had even shown a sonogram of a boy that she said was in breech position.

While faking pregnancy, she visited a Hispanic community center and there met Ramirez-Cruz, a mother of three and 40 weeks pregnant.

She reportedly lured Ramirez-Cruz to her home.

According to Fox News:

Morales-Rodriguez recounted bashing Ramirez-Cruz in the head with a baseball bat, choking her, putting duct tape over her eyes and nose, and wrapping a plastic bag around her head. Then, Morales-Rodriguez used a small blade to cut Ramirez-Cruz and pull out the stillborn baby boy. She called 911 and claimed she gave birth to a child who wasn’t breathing.

An examination found Morales-Rodriguez had not given birth and Ramirez-Cruz's body was later found in the basement.

She died of blood loss and asphyxiation from the involuntary Caesarean section, and her fetus as a result of her death.

Morales-Rodriguez's defense attorneys said Morales-Rodriguez didn't intend for anyone to die.

She faces a mandatory life sentence when she is sentenced on December 14, although a judge could allow for the possibility of parole.

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http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/120920/milwaukee-baby-stealing-fetus-womb-attempt-steal