A 36-year-old Kansas woman accused of strangling to death a northwest Missouri woman 8 months pregnant to steal her unborn child is scheduled to appear in federal court this afternoon. Lisa Montgomery is charged with kidnapping resulting in death. Montgomery could face the death penalty under what US Attorney Todd Graves says is known as the Lindbergh Law. Montgomery is accused of strangling to death 23-year-old Bobbie Jo Stinnett and cutting out her unborn child. The baby, Victoria Jo Stinnett, survived the ordeal. She is listed in good condition at a Topeka, Kansas hospital. Bobbie Jo Stinnett’s mother found her mutilated body Thursday afternoon in her home in Skidmore, her unborn baby had been cut out of her and removed. The discovery sparked a multistate search. Authorities arrested Montgomery in her home in Melvern, which is located south of Topeka. Authorities claim Montgomery wanted a child and discovered Stinnett through Stinnett’s rat terrier breeding business in Skidmore. The two had corresponded via the Internet. They allege Montgomery traveled to Skidmore disguised as someone interested in buying a dog. They claim she strangled Stinnett from behind, then sliced her open to remove the baby. Authorities accessed Stinnett’s computer and used computer tracking to lead them to Montgomery. The Stinnett family has been looking over Victoria Jo in the neonatal intensive care unit at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center in Topeka.
