Fetal-abduction suspect details attack in police video

MILWAUKEE -- A Milwaukee woman accused of killing a pregnant mother and trying to steal her fetus can be seen in a police video telling detectives she beat the victim, Maritza Ramirez-Cruz, with a bat three times. This, before choking her to death and cutting the fetus from the woman's womb.

Prosecutors played almost 40 minutes of the video Wednesday, September 19th for the jury. The video shows 34-year-old Annette Morales-Rodriguez providing a detailed description of the attack.

The video shows her sitting in an interrogation room, where she sobs and sniffles and occasionally covers her face with her hands. She tells police she planned to steal the full-term baby and pass it off as her own.

The victim's husband also took the stand on Wednesday. Christian Mercado says he told his wife he loved her on the day she disappeared. Through a translator, Mercado told the jury he kissed Ramirez-Cruz and said he loved her before he left for work.

Mercado says he called his wife and talked a few hours later. When he called a second time, she did not answer. He says he got chest pains and left work to look for her but never saw her alive again.

Morales-Rodriguez is charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the death of the mother and fetus. Her attorney rejected a plea deal Wednesday.  

Her attorney contends the homicides weren't intentional because Morales-Rodriguez didn't intend for anyone to die.

The trial is expected to end on Friday.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.

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