Woman Accused of Killing Her Newborn

(Metairie, Louisiana) In February 2009, a 21-year-old woman, Ciara Craig, was arrested for allegedly admitting to drowning her newborn daughter in Lake Pontchartrain. According to the probable cause affidavit:

"Ciara Craig walked to the edge of the lake, placed a hand on the newborn's chest, felt the newborn's heart beating and then placed the newborn into the water.

Ciara Craig stood at the edge of the lake and watched her newborn descend below the suface of the lake. Ciara Craig returned to her vehicle and waited approximately five minutes prior to leaving the area.

At no time did Ciara Craig attempt to retrieve the newborn from the lake."

Since last year, Craig has been detained in the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center, unable to post $500,000 bond. She reportedly has suffered some beatings by other inmates during her incarceration.

Craig currently is awaiting trial on a second-degree murder charge, scheduled for March 15. In the meantime, her lawyer, Morris Reed Sr., has been attempting to get Craig's confession declared inadmissible. He contends that it was coerced. So far, Reed has been unsuccessful.