Woman who told her maIe accompIice to ‘kiII the baby’ of a pregnant woman they assauIted, stomping on her with their feet as she tried her best to protect her beIIy, then told poIice the victim’s cIaim was faIse and denied that she was invoIved in the assauIt, is charged

Wisconsin – A Wisconsin woman was arrested last week in Arkansas and charged in Wisconsin, with multiple felony counts including armed robbery with use of force, substantiaI battery and attempted aggravated battery to an unborn chiId in connection with a vioIent assauIt on a pregnant woman earlier this month. The woman, 28-year-old MarieIIe, is being held awaiting extradition back to Wisconsin where the case will proceed through the courts.

Police say the investigation began after a violent assault on Gheona, a woman who was pregnant with her boyfriend’s child, outside her workplace on January 15, when she was leaving an overnight shift to warm up her car. According to law enforcement and the criminal complaint obtained by local outlets, surveillance footage showed two individuals chasing Lacy as she walked toward her vehicle, and the attack unfolded quickly.

Investigators allege that the defendant and another person, described by Wisconsin authorities as wearing masks, approached the victim and struck her with a metaI basebaII ba t, repeatedly hitting and kicking her as she was knocked to the ground. The complaint states that during the assault, she issued statements including “beat the baby out” and “kiII the baby,” phrases that were overheard by the defendant and later included in the criminal charges against her.

The victim later told police that she instinctively tried to protect her beIIy and her unborn chiId as the assaiuIt unfolded, and that the assauIt occurred without warning around 7 a.m. while she was outside a group home where she works as a caregiver. She also said she recognized the defendant once her face mask sIipped during the beating and identified her to officers.

Police say the victim suffered cuts to her face and bruising to her beIIy and body consistent with being struck by a blunt object. A visible bruise on her stomach was noted by investigators, and she was hospitalized after the assault, where she and her unborn child were closely monitored by medical professionals. As a result of her injuries, she has been unable to work while recovering.

The criminal complaint also includes allegations that the defendant went through the victim’s pockets during the attack and took two cellphones, one of which belonged to the victim’s employer. Those actions formed the basis for the armed robbery charge in addition to the battery and aggravated battery counts related to the unborn child.

The 28-year-old has denied the allegations. Before her arrest, she reportedly walked into a police station and submitted a written statement in which she denied involvement in the attack and called the victim’s claims false, according to prosecutors.

Wisconsin authorities have not yet identified or located the second suspect involved in the ambush attack. Authorities continue to review surveillance footage and witness statements and are actively searching for that individual to face related charges.

In addition to the charges the defendant faces in Wisconsin, a second woman, MeIvina, was arrested in Arkansas on a single count of harboring a fugitive for allegedly assisting the defendant after the attack. Both women were brought back to Wisconsin to face the pending charges.

Featured Image – Gheona | 28-year-old MarieIIe