National Briefs

By | Saturday, July 19, 2008

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MISSOURI

Woman pleads to snatching teen

INDEPENDENCE | A 20-year-old woman pleaded guilty Friday to snatching a pregnant teenager she met online in a foiled plot to steal her unborn child.

Lauren Gash, of Odessa, pleaded guilty to kidnapping, assaulting and restraining Amanda Howard, 18, inside a Blue Springs motel room a year ago.

Co-defendant Alisa Betts of Atchison, Kan., is charged with kidnapping, assault and felonious restraint.

Prosecutors say Gash planned to cut Ms. Howard's baby from her womb, but the Kansas City Star reported on its Web site Friday that Gash and her attorney said in court that the plan was to steal the baby after Ms. Howard delivered the infant.

Gash faces 15 years in prison each for the kidnapping and assault charges and seven years for felonious restraint. Sentencing was scheduled for Aug. 26.

FLORIDA

Officer, suspect killed in shooting

FORT MYERS | A missionary-turned-police-officer was fatally shot along with a suspect after police were called to a disturbance outside a downtown nightclub early Friday.

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