Cops: Suspect, Victim Met Before Murder

Homicide, Kidnapping Charged In Case Of Woman Who Claimed Newborn As Her Own

(CBS/ AP)  Pennsylvania police say they have evidence a woman suspected of cutting open a pregnant woman's uterus and stealing the baby spoke with the victim days before her body was found.

Andrea Curry-Demus is charged with homicide and kidnapping in the death of 18-year-old Kia Johnson. In court papers, police say they have video surveillance at the Allegheny County Jail from Tuesday showing Johnson and Curry-Demus talking.

CBS affiliate KDKA in Pittsburgh reported that the police are still trying to determine if the jailhouse encounter between Johnson and Curry-Demus was the first time their paths crossed.

"We're not convinced one way or another," said Allegheny County Police Superindendant Charles Moffatt.

Police say Curry-Demus denied meeting Johnson but that she told investigators her fingerprints would be on duct tape and plastic used to wrap the body.

Curry-Demus showed up at a Pittsburgh hospital Thursday with the newborn, claiming it as her own. Officials say tests proved she was not the mother. She told officials she had bought the baby for $1,000. Johnson's body was later found in Curry-Demus's apartment.

Dr. Karl Williams, the medical examiner, said Johnson's identity was confirmed with dental records.

Investigators are trying to verify whether Johnson was the mother of the baby boy Curry-Demus, 38, took to the hospital.

"The uterus appeared gravid, which means that there had been a baby there," Williams said at a news conference Saturday. Detectives found placenta at the scene, he said.

The baby was "apparently doing well," Williams said. The hospital would not release any information about the boy's condition. Authorities say the baby is "under observation."

Before the body was found, Curry-Demus was charged with child endangerment and dealing in infant children, and ordered jailed in lieu of $10,000 bail and a psychiatric exam.

In 1990, Curry-Demus, then known as Andrea Curry, was accused of stabbing a woman in an alleged plot to steal the woman's infant. A day after that stabbing, Curry-Demus snatched a 3-week-old baby girl from a hospital. The baby was found unharmed with Curry-Demus at her home the next day.

Curry-Demus pleaded guilty in 1991 to various charges from both incidents and got three to 10 years in prison, according to court records. She was paroled in August 1998.

[deacon20081]

We can''t really blame the crazy womans family for her actions. They may have run her off long ago. Don''t blame economic situations, race or the location of where they lived. This woman was convicted TWICE before and released on parole. The parole board shares the guilt as enablers of the crime in this case.
Pray for the girl and her baby.

[pierson98]

Frankly, I''m rather unsympathetic to the idea that her ''craziness'' serves as an excuse or separates this from any other violent, savage crime. Any person who gets caught committing a crime can come up with some sob story about being mentally troubled, having a tough life, not getting their needed medication or therapy or whatever. It doesn''t make it any different for the murder victims and their families.

The solution here was clear: execute her or put her in jail for life for the LAST attempted murder/baby-snatching. If that had been done, Kia Johnson would still be alive.

[apprxam]

Yes, this woman is a criminal, but she was also sick. When do we in this country realize that mental health is just as important as crime prevention? Blaming the system goes without saying, but what of her family? Which of her relatives were watching her? I mean. she leave jail and is received warmly by someone, so, where does responsibility fall with them?

Rules make impossible a judge''s decision to sentence criminals; there are limits. And in our anger over this tragic, needless crime, we tend to forget that. There has to be better laws, penalties, enforcement and facilities to handle people like Ms. Curry. The system needs changing.

[pierson98]

About 5 years ago, this same thing happened (I think it was in Missouri?), and it was a white perpetrator and a white vitcim. It''s definitely not a racial issue.

The issue is, why is someone who was convicted of assault and baby-snatching let free to do it again? Short prison sentence, no supervision upon release, ''oh, make sure you behave yourself!''

And then everyone says, ''Well, the jails are too full!'' Who gives a #$%^? Build more jails! Or ship them to an island somewhere! Or do SOMETHING, rather than just waiting for known violent criminals to kill again.

This nation used to be run by real men, who knew how to keep the public safe.

[jetlizhan]

she was an habitual offender - so why was she free on the streets?? this young girl could be alive today had this heap of trash remained in prison.

[luckygirl042]

I am from the area. The two women met at the jail when the victem was visiting her boyfriend and the other woman was visiting her husband.
A sad and terrible thing for everyone. I would hope that somehow this poor infant will have a wonderful life, and be shielded from the way his mother died.

[apprxam]

I think it smart that the jail or prison these respective ladies'' husbands/boyfriends occupy be secured and them separated before something else happens.

[apprxam]

What is black on black crime anyway? Could it be proximity and opportunity? And why the moral cast on those hurt by it. Victims only know that they are victims, no matter the perps race. That phrase is so simplistic and helps on one.

Black communities don''t want crime anymore than whites do, but circumstances make it all but certain. When these "GENTLEMEN" are released from prison, with records and no "Rehab", the place they land has no control over that aspect. The constitution doesn''t allow poor people to pick and choose wholives near them. Only political power can prevent that and like, tungincheek, knows all to well, that they''re just waiting for their checks, which implies a lack of such power.

I don''t recall the reporter for CBS''s Pittsburgh affiliate or any of the news articles stating anything about "people waiting for checks", but I guess, tung, knows more than we do. Crime has very few perps and many victims. First by the criminal and than by "Liberal-hating" screamers. I''m positive that these "people" want peace where they live. Whether that check comes or not.

[apprxam]

I agree, republic. Might we ask what responsibility the family had? I''m sure they waited with open arms when she was released; maybe they should be held somewhat as duty-bound to protect the public from her.

[oneworldusa]

The lady who did this needs the death penalty. Dunno how the jail meeting will come out and why the baby''s mom was there, jailed herself? Visiting? Planning to sell the baby? Who knows?

Most importantly at this point is that the baby is well taken care of and hopefully has a good life with a loving family, whomever it may be.

[nssherlock1]

The woman that did it is a REAL Buffa-rilla!

[republic1776]

I wonder what the Victim was doing in jail if this is where they met?
Tragic...
I hope that a loving family will adopt the child.

[republic1776]

Sick poeple in this World.
No body saw this coming?

[sandygirl18]

what in the world was see doing out on the streets! she was convicted of kidnapping an infant and only got 10 years!! convicted of stabbing a woman in attempt to kidnap an infant and again only got 10 years! thats nuts! In my state kidnapping is an madortory life sentence!

[oneworldusa]

Whaddya mean CBS intentionally omits criminal photo because of race? This was obviously black-on-black crime. Do you think CBS would publish if it were a white woman trying to steal a black woman''s baby? I''m just not following your logic.

[tungincheek]

You''re right on the money Dakota. This nation is going down the crapper. We have fourth generation people who think that what you do is sit on the stoop and get your check and go downtown to get your WIC and food stamps. With so much idle time, no wonder we have so much crime.

And don''t all you liberal jerks get your panties in a knot. I am not targeting a race or nationality. Five or six years ago, the forefathers of these scumbags were hard working Americans. Once again, thank you Kennedy''s!

[apprxam]

HOnestly, that chick is crazy and need to be locked away from society. Period.

[apprxam]

That''s right, tung, this is about welfare programs, becasue if only she had a job, she''d never would''ve lost her mind.

[apprxam]

It''s heartening to know that after Ms. Curry is convicted and sent to jail and then released in 8 years that she''ll be cured, again, and never attempt to steal another baby or kill another pregnant woman.

Who says we need to rethink our mental health policy in this country?

[tungincheek]

I see I am being censored here. So much for freedom of the press.