Pregnant Woman Lured, Baby Ripped From Womb: Dynel Lane Charged
On Wednesday, a pregnant woman in Denver was lured to a home under the pretense of purchasing baby clothes when she was beaten, stabbed, and her baby cut from her womb.
Dynel Lane, 34, a former certified nursing assistant, has been charged with the attack. She allegedly brought the deceased child to the hospital, saying that she had a miscarriage. Upon examination, it was quickly determined that Lane was never pregnant but had sustained cuts on her hand. Lane confessed to the crime and was promptly arrested and booked into Boulder County Jail.
The 26-year-old pregnant mother, identified as Michelle Wilkins, met Lane on Craigslist. The victim met Lane at her residence in Longmont. The pregnant woman was lured down to the basement of the home. There she was beaten and stabbed in the stomach. Lane cut the baby from her womb and left her to die in the basement.
The pregnant mother regained consciousness and called 911 on her cell phone. KMGH reports that in the 911 call released Thursday, you can hear the victim struggling to answer the dispatcher’s questions.
The dispatcher asked, “What did she cut you with?”
“A knife. I’m pregnant. She cut me in my stomach. I’m afraid …” she said weakly.
Officers responded to the scene and followed a trail of blood from the bedroom to a utility room, where they found bloody towels being washed in the washing machine. The victim was found lying in a pool of blood and a small knife was found nearby. Officers questioned the victim about who stabbed her. She replied that “she only knew her as ‘D’.” Police are currently looking for other pregnant women who might have responded to the Craigslist ad.
The victim is expected to recover.
Bond for Lane has been set for $2 million dollars.
KUSA News reports that Lane’s husband had arrived home early to take Lane to a prenatal appointment. When he arrived, he found Lane covered in blood and the baby in a bathtub.
According to the arrest affidavit, “The husband rubbed the baby slightly then rolled it over to hear and see it take a gasping breath,” the affidavit reads. The husband took Lane and the baby to the hospital and dropped her off, returning home to pick up his stepdaughters. When he arrived, he was greeted by Longmont police officers and was made aware of the horrific act that took place in his home.
Lane has two teenage daughters. KUSA reports that an obituary for a 1-year-old boy lists Dynel Cruz (now Lane) as the mother. The child drowned in a pond in 2002. Lane divorced and remarried, taking the last name of Lane. KUSA interviewed her former husband.
“She was just a normal human being,” Cruz said. “I never suspected this would happen.” He describes their relationship as normal. “She was fine. She was just your typical woman,” Cruz said. “During those 12 years we were happily married and we had no issues. We just decided at one point the relationship was over.”
Lane’s two daughters told police their mom showed them an ultrasound of a baby boy in December, 2014. One of the daughters said that she couldn’t tell if Lane was pregnant, as she was very petite.
Lane’s husband has not been charged with anything related to the attack. Lane is facing attempted first-degree murder charges, child abuse resulting in death, and first-degree assault. An autopsy of the baby is awaited to see if the child drew a breath. If so, Lane could be charged with murder.
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[Images: Boulder County S.O and Facebook]
