Life without parole for killer of mother and baby

An American woman obsessed with having a baby has pleaded guilty to murdering a pregnant woman then cutting her unborn child from her.

Korena Roberts, 29, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

She beat 21-year-old Heather Snively with a police baton in June 2009 and used a straight razor to open her abdomen.

Roberts’ boyfriend found her in the bath with a lifeless baby that doctors said had never drawn a breath. It was due two months later.

Officers found Ms Snively’s body in the attic space of Roberts’ home in Oregon.

For months before the killing, Roberts told neighbours she was pregnant, going so far as to acquire a stroller, baby formula and parenting magazines.

A few weeks before the killing, Snively moved to Oregon from Maryland to be with her fiance.

Detectives have said they believe Roberts and Ms Snively met through an online classified service where both were looking for baby clothes.

Roberts had attempted to contact other pregnant women before making the connection with Ms Snively, District Attorney Bob Hermann told a court yesterday.

Among those in the court were Ms Snively’s fiance, Chris Popp, and her father, Kevin Snively.

“You took my daughter. My life is never going to be the same,” Mr Snively said, looking at Roberts.

“You’ve messed up our family. My mom and dad have one less grandchild.”

He added: “I hope you never forget that.”

“I don’t know what to say to you,” Mr Popp told Roberts. “You’ve got a long sentence ahead of you.”

Roberts cried during the entire plea hearing, her bottom lip trembling. She chose not to make a statement.

During a bail hearing last November, Roberts’ attorney said she had given birth to a stillborn child in 2007 and seemed obsessed with babies, repeatedly watching videos of births on YouTube, sewing baby clothes and telling people for about a year that she was pregnant.

Roberts’ boyfriend, Yan Shubin, told police he called 911 on June 5, 2009, after coming home and finding Roberts with a baby covered in blood.