Woman accused of trying to cut out unborn baby can face attempted murder charge: Judge

Detectives have collected enough evidence to substantiate attempted murder charges against a Suitland woman accused of trying to cut out a homeless woman's unborn baby, a Prince George's County District Court judge ruled at a preliminary hearing Tuesday.

With the victim and her newborn baby looking on from the gallery, Judge Thurman H. Rhodes rejected a defense attorney's argument that even if the allegations against Veronica Deramous were true, they did not indicate she had an intent to kill. The suspect's actions demonstrated she had no regard for the life of her victim, Rhodes said in court.

The defense attorney, public defender Lisa Robinson, said a detective testified only that Deramous, 40, wanted to take the unborn child of Teka Adams, not kill the 29-year-old.

Miracle Sky. (Family Photo)

That detective acknowledged that Deramous never spoke about murder, but prosecutors suggested that her actions -- cutting the pregnant woman open while she was bound and gagged -- spoke louder than her words.

The hearing, a likely step toward a grand jury indictment of Deramous, provided a first glimpse into possible defenses for her. Her attorney again raised an issue police have acknowledged in the past: that Deramous told detectives in a brief phone conversation that Adams had agreed to take $5,000 in exchange for her baby, then changed her mind about the deal.

Deramous (Pr. George's County Police).

Police have said Adams vigorously denies that accusation, and they believe her. Deramous has declined to talk to investigators at length, police have said.

Adams and her now infant child, named Miracle Sky, attended the hearing with the baby's father, Ronald Bell. All appeared to be doing well.

-- Matt Zapotosky