WORCESTER, Mass. - A Massachusetts woman has been convicted of killing her pregnant friend, then cutting the baby from her womb and passing the girl off as her own.
A Worcester Superior Court jury found Julie Corey guilty Wednesday in the 2009 murder of 23-year-old Darlene Haynes.
Prosecutors said Haynes was eight-months pregnant when Corey beat and strangled her. They told the jury Corey had been pregnant, too, but had a miscarriage three months earlier and told her boyfriend and family that Haynes' baby was hers.
Corey's lawyers contended police failed to follow up on other potential suspects, including Haynes' ex-boyfriend. They also suggested Haynes' ex-boyfriend had given Corey and her boyfriend, Alex Dion, the baby. Dion denied that.
Defense lawyer Michael Wilcox said he was disappointed with the verdict and plans to appeal.