A Colorado jury found Dynel Lane guilty Tuesday of attempted first-degree murder, unlawful termination of a pregnancy, and other first-degree assault charges for luring Michelle Wilkins to her house with a Craigslist ad for free baby clothes and cutting Wilkins’ fetus from her body.
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On Tuesday, Lane was convicted of six felony counts, including attempted first-degree murder and unlawful termination of a pregnancy, according to KDVR.
Lane lured Michelle Wilkins, 27, to her home through a Craigslist ad for maternity clothes. Wilkins, who was seven months pregnant, survived the attack but her unborn baby – a girl – did not.
Michelle Wilkins, the victim who survived the attack despite losing her baby, was seen holding her father’s hand and weeping in the courtroom when the verdict was announced, the Longmont Times Call reported. They recalled evidence of Lane hosting a baby shower despite not actually being pregnant and reminded the court that Lane had found a photo of an ultrasound on the Internet, printed it out and passed it off as her own.
That roiled anti-abortion groups and prompted Colorado Republicans to introduce legislation that would have allowed prosecutors to file murder charges for killing a fetus, but Democrats rejected the measure. She avoids television out of fears that a violent show will send her mind back to the horrors of the attack.
Wilkins clothed her, read to her and held her tight.
The defense rested without calling any witnesses.
Prosecutors argued that Lane was desperate to produce a baby after telling her boyfriend she was pregnant.
Michelle Wilkins speaks candidly about the attack on her nearly a year ago, losing her unborn child and the emotional trial to members of the press inside the Boulder County Justice Center on February 23, 2016.
She said Lane responded, “If you love me, you’ll let me do this”, before stabbing Wilkins in the neck.
Wilkins expressed gratitude that Lane has to answer to the state of Colorado for the heinous crime she committed. After going to the hospital and after police were summoned, she confessed that she’d never been pregnant.
However, District Attorney Stan Garnett said Lane was careful and deliberate enough to change to using a second knife to remove the baby.
“There is nothing – in any way, shape or form – that can prepare you for something like this”, Wilkins said.
Wilkins says she looks forward to Lane’s sentencing on April 29 when she can finally address her assailant.
Wilkins later thanked the public for the outpouring of support she received after the tragedt. She called the assault “impulsive” and “hasty”.
Wilkins said the doctors told her she would be able to have children in the future if that is what she decides.
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“She told David she just miscarried and the baby was in the bathtub upstairs”, the police report said.
