A courageous expectant mother narrowly escaped death when a near stranger launched a terrifying assault in an attempt to steal her unborn child.
Veronica Deramous had encountered Teka Adams at a homeless shelter in Washington, USA, and enticed her back to her home. Upon the pregnant Teka’s arrival, Deramous initiated a horrific attack, attempting to extract Teka’s unborn baby with a box cutter. The expectant mother barely managed to escape, clutching her slashed open stomach, holding both her own intestines and the baby inside.
On 6 December 2009, Teka’s baby was delivered via emergency C-section. She named the baby Miracle, as reported by The Washington Post.
Deramous was arrested later that same day and charged with attempted murder. In court in 2010, Teka stated that she and her baby would have perished if she had remained in Deramous’ house any longer, reports the Mirror.
She asked Deramous to look at Miracle. “You see her? She beautiful,” Teka said.
“You could’ve took that from me.” Teka confronted Deramous’s family members, declaring, “I hope y’all proud of y’all daughter and y’all sister,” she said.
Yet Deramous maintained she had encountered Teka months earlier, claiming the expectant mother had expressed a desire to terminate her pregnancy.
According to Deramous, she told Teka of her longing for a child, leading to an agreement where Deramous would buy the infant from Teka for $5000, with both women exchanging contact details.
Deramous insisted Teka voluntarily arrived at her home to give birth, though she alleged a scuffle ensued, whilst claiming memory loss regarding the morning of Teka’s getaway due to consuming whisky.
At Prince George’s County Circuit Court, Teka urged her assailant to “rot forever” behind bars.
When Deramous insisted she had purchased garments for the baby girl, Teka fired back; “Where they at? Where they at? Fight me now!” Judge C.
Philip Nichols Jr. accepted Deramous’s guilty plea to first-degree assault, handing down a 25-year prison term. The judge also accepted a guilty plea to false imprisonment under the Alford doctrine – whereby Deramous avoided admitting culpability to the charge whilst recognising the compelling evidence against her – imposing a life sentence with all but 15 years suspended.
Assistant State’s Attorney Scott Carrington, who led the prosecution, declared Deramous had been dishonest from “the moment she opened her mouth.
“I thought the plea was the best result,” Ivey said. “I think this is a win all the way around for the victim and the community.”
