New Twist In Fetus Theft Try

A woman in custody for allegedly beating her neighbor and cutting open her abdomen to try to steal her fetus is herself pregnant, the suspect's boyfriend claims. Authorities say she isn't.

Police took baby items from the trailer of Peggy Jo Conner, reports Ralph Iannotti of CBS station KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh.

Conner, 38, of Kittanning, Pa., is accused of hitting next-door neighbor Valerie Oskin, 30, over the head with a baseball bat, then taking her to a wooded area and slicing open her abdomen with a razor knife in an attempt to take Oskin's fetus. Oskin was eight months pregnant.

Conner is charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault and assault on an unborn child.

Investigators say a 17-year-old boy driving his ATV spotted the two women and called police.

The baby was delivered at a Pittsburgh hospital by emergency Caesarean section and is said to be doing well. Oskin is in critical condition, though slightly improved, Iannotti reports.

Authorities say Conner has three kids of her own, ranging in age from nine to 15, and she wanted another child.

Armstrong County, Pa., District Attorney Scott Andreassi says, "She told people, we're finding more and more people, that she was in fact pregnant and expecting a child."

But "there is no indication of that at this point," Andreassi adds.

Conner's boyfriend, Thomas Wilks, told police Connor is, in fact, expecting. He says, "She is pregnant. I got a sonogram saying she is pregnant."

Andreassi told The Early Show co-anchor Rene Syler Friday that the sonogram isn't of a baby Conner is carrying now, and hospital tests on her confirm she isn't pregnant.

He added Conner admits she was planning the attempted fetus theft, and other evidence points that way as well.