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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Newborn dies after mother’s body found

Oregon woman, charged with murder, met victim on Craigslist

Steven Dubois Associated Press

PORTLAND – A pregnant 21-year-old found dead with her baby no longer in her womb befriended the woman charged with killing her through Craigslist, her mother said Sunday.

Police said they found Heather M. Snively’s body Friday in a crawl space in Korena Elaine Roberts’ home in Beaverton, a Portland suburb. They’d been called there because a newborn wasn’t breathing. The baby later died.

Roberts told officers she’d recently given birth to the baby boy, said Sgt. David Thompson of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and both were taken to a hospital. Doctors could not save the baby, and they alerted authorities after determining Roberts had not given birth.

Roberts, 27, was charged with murder in Snively’s death and could face charges in the baby’s death as well, Thompson said. She was being held without bond.

Autopsy results were scheduled to be released today. Thompson would not say whether Snively gave birth before she died or the baby was removed. Police have not released a motive for the killing.

Snively’s mother, Heidi Kidd of St. Albans, W.Va., said Snively met Roberts a few weeks ago through Craigslist. Roberts told Snively she was pregnant and wanted baby clothes, Kidd said. They befriended each other and kept talking online.

“I guess they decided to meet and I guess that was the wrong thing to do,” she said. “But Heather’s always been a very trusting person.”