Pa. infant cut from womb leaves hospital

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The infant cut from a slain woman’s womb last week was released from the hospital as the attorney for the woman accused of the crime said her client intends to plead not guilty in the case.

Stephanie Waite, a spokeswoman for West Penn Hospital, said the baby was released Wednesday, but she could not say where the child was taken because of patient privacy issues.

Andrea Curry-Demus, 38, of Wilkinsburg, was charged Sunday with homicide, kidnapping and related offenses in the death of 18-year-old Kia Johnson. Authorities say the two women met at the Allegheny County Jail on July 15 while visiting different inmates.

Johnson’s decomposing body, her wrists and ankles bound by duct tape and layers of tape and plastic covering much of her head, was found Friday in Curry-Demus’ apartment.

Curry-Demus’ attorney, Angela Carsia, said a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday, but an Allegheny County judge will hold a competency hearing today to determine whether her client is mentally competent to proceed.

Carsia said she met with Curry-Demus at the Allegheny County Jail on Tuesday.

“She’s not doing that well, but she’s there. She’s able to communicate with me, as far as that goes,” Carsia said Wednesday.

In May 1990, several months after Curry-Demus said she had a miscarriage, she stabbed one woman in an apparent plot to steal her newborn, according to court records. The next day, she kidnapped another baby from a hospital, according to the documents.