Autopsy: Baby was removed from womb

PORTLAND, Ore. - An autopsy report has determined that a pregnant Tigard woman had her abdomen cut open and her baby boy removed, but the state medical examiner's office was still investigating whether her death was the result of those cutting injuries or separate head wounds she suffered, authorities said Monday.

Heather Snively, 21, (pictured at right) was found dead Friday in the crawl space of a house near Beaverton. The resident, 27-year-old Korena Elaine Roberts, stands accused of killing Snively and claiming the victim's baby as her own.

Roberts was charged with one count of murder and appeared in court Monday for her arraignment.  She and her attorney did not enter a plea because the attorney had not yet seen the police report or more on the charges against Roberts.

"(We need) the autopsy of the child, as well as hopefully some lab results and some further investigation, to tell us what the legal status of that will be," said Washington County District Attorney Bob Hermann.

Oregon law prevents the District Attorney's office from pursuing two counts of murder because they have no clear evidence that the infant was breathing and state law states murder can only be committed on a living being.

The Oregon Medical Examiner's Office has been unable to determine whether the infant died before or after he was removed from the womb, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, which is investigating the case. Those facts could play a role in how Roberts is charged.

On Monday, the sheriff's office said Roberts had been telling friends and family for months she was pregnant; she even told her live-in boyfriend she was having twins. Detectives believe she and Snively only knew each other for a short time, perhaps just a week. Snively's mother said her daughter met Roberts through Craigslist, and Roberts said she wanted baby clothes. But the sheriff's office has not been able to confirm this.

Detectives believe Snively, who had moved to Tigard from Maryland just weeks ago to join her longtime boyfriend, was attacked Friday by Roberts. Snively was in her third trimester. Emergency crews responded to Roberts' home after someone reported a baby there in distress. Both Roberts and the child were taken to the hospital, at which time doctors determined Roberts had not given birth. They were unable to revive the baby.

Officers responded to Roberts' home and found Snively's body. The victim's boyfriend, Christopher Popp, reported her missing Friday night, and detectives were able to link the two incidents. 

Detectives believe Roberts may have had contact with numerous pregnant women in the Portland-area, and they asked anyone who communicated with her online or in person to call the sheriff's office at (503) 846-2700.

"We're asking any pregnant woman that she may have contacted to give us a call," said Sgt. Dave Thompson with the Washington County Sheriff's Office. "We're trying to figure out what her motivation was here and if she tried to contact others prior to Miss Snively."

Meanwhile, a memorial for Snively is beginning to grow outside her home and her family says they can't understand how such a horrible crime could have been committed against such a caring person.

"Heather was just a good person," said David Kidd, her step-father.  "She'd help anybody she could help.  She'd do anything for anybody. Basically, you couldn't find a better person."

"She really was friendly and hyper and bubbly and she always had friends," said Kayla Kidd, her step-sister.

Is Craigslist Safe?

By Craigslist's own accounts, 50 million people in the United States use the site every month and based on those numbers, those who run the site say it has an extremely low incidence of violent crime.

Nonetheless, Craigslist crimes have been in the headlines.  Just last month, three Tacoma teenagers were arrested for four robberies.  In one, they allegedly attacked a mother and son with a hammer.  The two had gone to see a car the suspects had advertised on Craigslist.

So the question is, should you use the site?

"You can't do all the what ifs for every situation," said Detective Pam Yazzolino with the Beaverton Police Department.  "You have to use your gut feeling.  If you don't really feel safe or comfortable with it, don't do it.  Nothing says you have to sell to that person."

If you do, keep in mind:

• Don't give out any personal information, not even your last name.
• Don't use your personal e-mail account.
• Don't call from your home phone, unless the number is blocked.  It's better to use a cell phone.
• If you're selling an item, post pictures online to cut down on people coming to your house.
• Be wary of someone who doesn't ask questinos about what you are selling.
• Only meet during the day and if you can, meet in a public place and not just a parking lot but someplace inside with lots of people.
• If you are selling or buying a car, bring someone else along for the test drive.