Autopsy determines baby was cut from pregnant woman

HILLSBORO - Heather Snively, the 21-year-old Tigard woman who was allegedly murdered over the weekend, was cut open so her unborn son could be removed from her womb, an autopsy has determined.

At this point, it isn't known whether the pregnant woman died from blows to the head or from being cut open, said Sgt. David Thompson, spokesman for the Washington County Sheriff's Office.


Heather Snively

Snively's accused killer, Korena Elaine Roberts, 27, is due in Washington County Circuit court this afternoon to be arraigned on at least one count of murder. Thompson said Snively was killed sometime Friday and her body found later in the crawlspace of a home rented by Roberts.

The autopsy determined that Snively's baby was removed from the Tigard woman's womb. But Thompson said additional tests and laboratory work were necessary before officials would know whether the baby was taken from the womb alive or dead.

Roberts and her boyfriend called 9-1-1 Friday afternoon to report the baby was having a medical emergency.


Korena Elaine Roberts

Roberts and the baby were taken to Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, where doctors were unable to revive the child. Roberts initially said the baby was hers, but doctors at the hospital determined that she hadn't given birth recently.

Thompson said that Roberts had been claiming for months to be pregnant. He said she even told her live-in boyfriend that she was expecting twins.

He said detectives weren't sure whether Roberts met Snively through advertisements on the Internet site Craigslist, but said they were continuing to investigate the possibility.

Thompson added that detectives believe Roberts may have been in touch with a number of pregnant women in the Portland area.

He said anyone who had contact with Roberts, either in person or over the Internet, is asked to call the sheriff's office at 503-846-2700.

Thompson added that Roberts' boyfriend was cooperating with investigators and does not face charges.

Snively's body was found by deputies in a crawl space beneath the floor of Roberts' rented home. Thompson said the space was accessed by a trap door in the floor and that Roberts could have placed the body there without the help of an accomplice.