Pregnant Woman Recovering After Attack

Oct. 14, 2005 — -- A Pennsylvania mother whose belly was slashed open, allegedly by a woman who attacked her trying to steal her unborn baby, is recovering in the hospital, according to state police.

Valerie Oskin's baby was delievered by emergency Caesarean section at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, after a teenager happened upon the attack in a wooded area of Wayne Township on Wednesday and notified police.

"I understand she (Oskin) was removed from her breathing tube and she is able to talk now," state police Lt. Thomas Dubovi said. The hospital declined to release information about the woman or her baby, at the request of the family.

Police said the baby was healthy.

Peggy Jo Conner, 38, of Ford City, was arraigned Thursday on charges of attempted murder and attempted aggravated assault in the attack on Oskin, 30. Conner is being held without bail in the Armstrong County Jail.

"The only indication we have right now was her (Conner's) ultimate goal was to get this child and claim it as her own," said Armstrong County District Attorney Scott Andreassi.

Andreassi said tests performed on Conner indicate she was not pregnant, although she had convinced her friends that she was. She told police she was seven months pregnant, according to the criminal complaint, and had filled her home with a baby swing, bassinet and baby toys.

"She is pregnant," said Thomas Wilks, who said he is Conner's estranged husband. "I got a sonogram saying she is pregnant. I've felt the baby kick numerous times. I've felt the baby kick in her stomach."

Hero Teen

Adam Silvis, 17, happened upon the attack before the baby was removed from Oskin and called police.

Authorities believe Conner attacked Oskin in her home around 11 a.m. Wednesday morning when Oskin's 7-year-old son was also at home. Police are investigating whether Conner used a baseball bat to strike Oskin on the back of the head.

Conner allegedly led a bloodied Oskin and her son out of the trailer where she ran into Betty Thevenin and John Crissman who were working in the trailer next door. Thevenin told police she insisted Conner take Oskin to the hospital and believed that is what Conner planned to do.

Police say Conner allegedly dropped the boy off at a relative's house, then drove approximately 15 miles to a wooded area where she cut 7 to 8 inches across her stomach, following a pre-existing Caesarean section scar.

The police criminal complaint said "there was evidence that indicated vaginal intrusion." The complaint also lists a "birth kit" found on the defendant -- "two hemostats, a bulb syringe, shoelaces, razor knife, scissors and yellow rubber gloves."

The attack was interrupted when Silvis drove his four-wheel ATV on a trail near the two women about 5 p.m. The teen asked if there was a problem, and drove off when Conner said it was fine. However, he returned with his father and they called police about 7 p.m. and police arrived shortly after.

"If you believe in fate, if you believe in a higher power, this was it," Andreassi said. "If this young man does not come onto the scene, you lose the victims, Oskin, and you probably lose the baby as well." He could not explain why it took so long for the boy and his father to alert authorities.

Silvis' father, Andrew Silvis, told ABC Adam is handling the media attention as "best he can." "We're from a small town," Silvis said. "We're not used to all this attention and we're a little overwhelmed."

Planning for Baby?

Andreassi said a search of Conner's trailer uncovered a bassinet, baby swing and other baby items.

Wilks, Conner's estranged husband, said Oskin and Conner were friends and were growing closer over the weeks.

"They were pregnant together," he said. "They were helping each other out."

Andreassi said it was all part of Conner's long-term plan to steal Oskin's baby.

Conner is the mother of three children, aged 11, 14 and 16. There is no indication she has a criminal history, according to Andreassi, nor has there been any evidence of mental illness.

Conner's hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

Oskin's 7-year-old son has been placed in protective custody.

There have been several attacks on pregnant women to steal their babies. Bobbie Jo Stinnet, 23, was strangled in Skidmore, Mo., and the baby cut from her body in 2004. Carolyn Simpson, 21, was shot and killed in December 2003. Her fetus was ripped from her body and the baby later died. Theresa Andrews, 23, was shot and her baby delivered in a Caesarean section in 2000. Carethia Curry was shot and killed in 1996 and a fellow teen ripped the full-term baby from her body.