Craigslist Post Ends in Grisly Attack on Pregnant Colorado Woman

A Colorado woman was arrested this week after a she orchestrated a Craigslist transaction that went very wrong. Thirty-four-year-old Dynel Lane of Longmont, Colorado allegedly cut out 26-year-old Michelle Wilkins’ unborn child from her womb, leaving Wilkins to call 911 herself and pretending that the baby was hers via miscarriage. The two women did not know each other and Wilkins had gone to Lane’s home in order to purchase baby clothes that Lane had advertised on Craigslist.

Read More: Slideshow: Killers of Craigslist

Law Street’s investigation into killings associated with making transactions on Craigslist, the popular buying-and-selling website, yielded the discovery of 58 murderers and 45 murder victims since 2009. This brutal attack is reminiscent of the 2009 attack on a pregnant 21-year-old woman in Oregon. Korena Roberts arranged to sell baby clothes to Heather Snively through an an on Craigslist. When Snively arrived at Roberts’ home, Roberts hit hit more than 30 times before cutting her open and taking her unborn child. In that case Snively died of major blood loss and Roberts pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated murder. She is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Michelle Wilkins survived Dynel Lane’s attack, with surgeons noting that the incision in her abdomen “appeared to be well performed.” Lane was a licensed nurse aide between July 21, 2010 and January 31, 2012. Wilkins’ baby, however, did not survive the grisly attack.

Police are now investigating the crime, as well as Lane’s history, as prosecutors determine how exactly to charge her. According to Boulder County District Attorney Stanley L. Garnett,

Under Colorado law, essentially, there’s no way murder charges can be brought if it’s not established that the fetus lived as a child outside the body of the mother for some period of time. I don’t know the answer yet as to whether that can be established.

Wilkins pregnancy was seven months along at the time of the attack, and the hospital report indicates that the baby “would have been viable.”

Lane was arrested on attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, and child abuse that knowingly and recklessly resulted in death. Charges are expected to be filed next week.

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Chelsey D. Goff

Chelsey D. Goff was formerly Chief People Officer at Law Street. She is a Granite State Native who holds a Master of Public Policy in Urban Policy from the George Washington University. She’s passionate about social justice issues, politics — especially those in First in the Nation New Hampshire — and all things Bravo. Contact Chelsey at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.