"Newborn" KELLY -(2009) Union County NC

Mother on trial for baby dismembered and left in burn pile
Jul 07, 2011

UNION COUNTY, NC (WBTV) - The trial begins Thursday morning for a woman accused of leaving her infant baby to die in Union County.

Investigators say Erica Denise Kelly dumped her newborn baby girl in Waxhaw near a burn pile.

The infant's umbilical cord was still attached when it was discovered February 2009. Two of the child's limbs had been severed.

Police said Kelly gave birth to the baby girl and left the infant to die.

Kelly was later charged with murder.

Right after the discovery of the child's remains, WBTV interviewed Steven Knotts who, at the time, lived next door to Kelly.

He said he had no idea his neighbor was pregnant.

Teresa Chambers owns a salon three doors down from the restaurant where Kelly worked. It was the same place where Kelly was arrested.

During a prior interview, Chambers said Kelly appeared distant.

"She was very nice when she took my money, but she was quiet as if she had things on her mind. I never knew what it was," Chamber said.

http://www.wbtv.com/story/15040047/mother-on-trial-for-baby-dismembered-and-left-in-burn-pile

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/07/14/2453197/mom-gets-13-years-for-death-of.html
Union County mom gets 13 years for death of newborn girl

Observer Staff and Wire Reports

Posted: Thursday, Jul. 14, 2011Modified: Thursday, Jul. 14, 2011




A Union County woman will serve at least 13 years in prison after being found guilty in the death of her baby girl who she was accused of abandoning shortly after birth.

Erica Denise Kelly, 25, was convicted by a jury of second-degree murder in the death of the girl born Feb. 24, 2009. The infant's body was found a few feet from a trash pile later that day on Whispering Hollow Lane, in the rural southern part of Union County near the state line.

The baby's umbilical cord was still attached, authorities said, and the medical examiner's office said the baby had been born alive.

Prosecutors said Kelly told investigators she gave birth to the baby in the early-morning hours of Feb. 24, then abandoned the little girl along the road, saying she hoped someone driving along the road would take the baby home. But during the trial, Kelly testified that her ex-boyfriend took the baby shortly after it was born and said the infant would be safe.

A jury of eight women and four men testified for parts of two days before returning the verdict.

Superior Court Judge David Lee sentenced Kelly to 13 to 16 years in prison.

Kelly's attorney, Robert Trobich, had asked for a shorter sentence, saying his client had a clean legal record and also had a 4-year-old son, Caeden White. Kelly told the judge she was incapable of killing her baby and asked for leniency.

Lee said state guidelines mandated the length of the sentence.


Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/07/14/2453197/mom-gets-13-years-for-death-of.html#storylink=cpy