Korena Roberts, 27, was found guilty of murder after she faked a pregnancy, befriended an expectant mother, and then killed her to steal the unborn child. The body of 21-year-old Heather Snively was discovered hidden in Roberts' home in Oregon.
Details of the Crime
According to CNN, a post-mortem examination revealed that Heather Snively had been sliced open at the abdomen so her unborn baby could be removed. She had also sustained between 15 and 30 blows to the head with multiple weapons and had bite marks on her arm, as reported by Oregon Live.
Roberts murdered Heather in the bathroom, wrapped her body in carpet, and concealed it in a crawl space under the property. She then called her boyfriend, Yan Shubin, claiming she was in labor and needed assistance. Roberts had fabricated a pregnancy for nearly a full term, according to the Irish Mirror.
Discovery of the Baby
When Yan arrived home, he found Roberts in the bathtub with the water running, sobbing hysterically and holding a baby boy. Roberts contacted emergency services in Oregon in 2009, claiming the infant was ill, but paramedics were unable to revive the child. They notified police after realizing Roberts was not the baby's mother.
Doctors requested a psychological assessment, and a psychologist found no psychosis or other mental disorders in Roberts. Investigators disclosed that Roberts, who has two children under 10, had spent months pretending to be pregnant. She told friends and her partner she was carrying twins.
Victim and Aftermath
Roberts had befriended Heather, who was new to the area, after they connected via an internet site and arranged to swap baby clothes. Heather and her son both died. Roberts' boyfriend faced no charges and cooperated with police.
Neighbors told KPTV that Roberts had informed them she was expecting a baby, but one neighbor, Doug King, said, "She didn't appear to be pregnant to us." Police believe Roberts may have contacted multiple pregnant women in the Portland metropolitan area.
Legal Proceedings
Prosecutors examined whether Roberts could face charges regarding the baby boy, but Oregon law requires proof that a baby took at least one breath outside the womb. Washington County District Attorney Bob Hermann stated that an autopsy and interviews with emergency personnel found no evidence the infant survived. Hermann said the aggravated murder charges demonstrate Roberts attempted to abduct the baby and rob Heather, and sought to conceal the crimes.
In 2010, Roberts pleaded guilty, telling Judge Don Letourneau, "I am taking responsibility because I am guilty." Heather's fiancé, Chris Popp, said, "You've taken away my fiancee, my son -- I don't know what to say to you." Heather's mother and stepfather described her as a happy, generous woman with "a smile that would light up a room." Their statement read, "There is no punishment severe enough for what you did. We hope you're haunted every day for the rest of your life by what you did." Roberts received a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
