Gash had claimed to be pregnant, showed off a fake sonogram, registered for baby items, was given a baby shower, and wore maternity clothes.  She later told family that she had given birth via a C-section in a local hospital.   She had not been pregnant however and needed an infant in order to substantiate her story. 

Using an alias, Gash placed an advertisement on Myspace, offering baby clothes to pregnant women. Howard was interested but lacked transportation, so Gash offered to pick her up, bring her to the place where the baby items were located, and then bring her home. 

Instead, Howard was pepper-sprayed, kidnapped, tied up and driven to a motel.  At one point, either Gash or her accomplice Betts tried to break Howard’s neck but was unable to do so. 

Betts had second thoughts about the crime, left the hotel room then contacted the police who quickly arrived. While Gash was answering the knock at the hotel room door, Howard managed to get her hands free. Police heard her screaming when Gash opened the door. 

During the investigations, police found a fake birth certificate for “Johnny Gash”, rope, a piece of paper with an infant’s footprint, tape, scissors, a vial of insulin, and a knife. 

Howard later reported that she had second thoughts about meeting up with a stranger from the internet but had overruled her better judgment.