Pregnancy's Biggest Danger: Homicide

Sherry Ann Culp, a divorced mother of two, was pregnant by her boyfriend. Just before Sherry would have given birth — she was executed.

"She got into her car, was fumbling with her keys, and someone shot her through the window twice in the head," recalled her father Ken Young.

The baby, Kelsey, survived for two days.

Three years later, police haven't made an arrest. But Sherry's parents believe whoever hired the hit man was motivated by rage over the pregnancy, reports CBS News Correspondent Sharyl Attkisson.

"I think the baby was definitely the cause of her death," admitted her mother Jane.

"If she hadn't been pregnant, she'd still be alive and she'd have a three-year-old baby," predicted Ken.

The little-known truth is murder just may be one of the leading causes of death among pregnant women.

There are many high profile examples — like former pro football player Rae Carruth convicted in the death of his pregnant girlfriend.

But even Isabelle Horon, who studied the problem in Maryland, was stunned by her own findings that a pregnant woman is more likely to be murdered than to die of any other cause.

When she was asked what it was about women being pregnant that made them more likely to be killed, Horon said, "Well pregnancy is a stressful period under the best of circumstances."

"I just can't imagine killing a pregnant woman — I just can't," exclaimed Jane Young.

The question is: what exactly is the connection between women becoming pregnant and becoming victims. That answer could help in developing preventive plans for mothers-to-be that extend beyond medical risks to the risk of violence.

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