PERPETRATOR DATA: 30 year old South African
VICTIM: 36 year old Valencia Behrens
METHOD OF LOCATING VICTIM: neighbor, offered a baby stroller
SURVIVAL OF MOTHER: no
SURVIVAL OF FETUS: yes
DID PERPETRATOR HAVE CHILDREN: not mentioned in media reports
FAKED PREGNANCY: yes, given a baby shower
MOTIVE: to substantiate faked pregnancy
EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE SOUGHT: yes
OUTCOME: life sentence
Loretta Cooke offered to give Valencia Behrens a baby stroller, if the pregnant woman would come to Cooke’s home. Once there, Cooke tied her up and performed a caesarean section. She removed the baby, but also the victim’s uterus.
When Behrens did not return, her family members went to Cooke’s house, looking for her. They found Behrens corpse.
Cooke took the infant to the local clinic because she had accidentally cut the baby’ head during the attack on Behrens.
Cooke attempted to plead insanity and amnesia but the psychological assessment noted that Cooke did not have a mental illness.
At her sentencing, the court pointed out that Cooke could have adopted a child rather than murdering a pregnant woman and cutting out her baby.
https://www.iol.co.za/news/baby-cut-out-of-joburg-womans-body-1637844
https://www.news24.com/news24/woman-gets-life-for-cutting-out-unborn-baby-20150430
https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/cook-planned-foetal-abduction-1754990
https://www.christianpost.com/news/woman-cuts-newborn-from-mothers-womb-in-horrifying-baby-theft.html
https://www.citizen.co.za/randfontein-herald/news-headlines/2014/09/26/baby-ripped-from-womb-celebrates-birthday/
https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/grisly-tale-of-woman-being-sliced-open-1738810
https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/murder-accused-asked-doc-to-lie-for-her-1741064