Dynel Lane, Colo. woman, found guilty of attempted murder, cut unborn baby from mother’s womb

DENVER — A Boulder County jury found Dynel Lane guilty Tuesday of first-degree attempted murder, assault and unlawful termination of a pregnancy for cutting the unborn baby from the womb of a seven-months’ pregnant woman.

Lane, 35, was found guilty on all six counts stemming from the horrific attack on Michelle Wilkins, who had come to Lane’s Longmont home March 18 in answer to a Craigslist ad for baby clothes. Lane led the expectant mother to the basement before hitting her over the head, stabbing and smothering her, then leaving her to die.

After the verdict was read, Ms. Wilkins, 27, said she had forgiven Lane. “I do not hate Dynel, but I am angry for all of the pain she has caused, the deceit, and for her selfishness,” she said.

“It had just never entered my worldview that someone could be so cruel and value life so little,” Ms. Wilkins said at a press conference outside the Boulder County Courthouse livestreamed on 9News Denver.

Attorneys for Lane argued that the attack was impulsive and unplanned, while prosecutors said she was “desperate” to produce an infant after telling her longtime boyfriend and other family members that she was pregnant.

Ms. Wilkins survived the attack after regaining consciousness and calling 911 on her cellphone, but the baby, whom she named Aurora, did not.

The jury deliberated for about six hours beginning Monday before reaching a verdict. Ms. Wilkins said she plans to speak at the sentencing hearing scheduled for April 29.

Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett said Tuesday that Lane could face as many as 120 years in prison, with a minimum sentence of 16 years.

“I may never get any real answers from her, I may never get an explanation from her, and I’ve come to discover that I really I don’t want anything from her,” Ms. Wilkins said. “What I do want to [express] is my frustration and anger at the callousness of her actions.”

The case sparked controversy after Mr. Garnett declined to charge Lane on a second count of first-degree attempted murder because there was no proof the baby was alive after being removed from Ms. Wilkins’ womb.

The case prompted Republican legislators to introduce a bill last year to allow prosecutors to press charges in the death of an unborn baby, but Democrats defeated the measure over fears that it would usher in fetal personhood.

Senate President Bill Cadman, a Republican, argued that the bill would have applied only to cases in which the baby was removed against the will of the mother.

Ms. Wilkins said Tuesday that it was “too soon” for her to decide whether she would try to have another baby — “I’m still grieving Aurora” — but that her doctors have told her she has the potential to have children despite the trauma inflicted by the attack.