Mass. woman pleads not guilty to killing pregnant friend, cutting baby from womb

Mass. woman pleads not guilty in womb-cutting case

WORCESTER, Mass. — A Massachusetts woman has pleaded not guilty to killing her pregnant friend and cutting the baby from her womb.

Julie Corey was ordered held without bail Wednesday in Worcester (WUH’-stur) Superior Court on charges of murder and kidnapping.

Corey and the baby were found in a homeless shelter in Plymouth, N.H., in July. That was days after Darlene Hayes was found dead in her Worcester apartment.

DNA tests showed the baby girl was cut from the womb of the 23-year-old Haynes. Haynes was eight months pregnant when she died.

The baby is in Massachusetts state custody.