The family of Marlen Ochoa, the 19-year-old Chicago woman who was murdered before her baby was forcibly extracted, announced on June 14 that the baby died.
Yovanny Jadiel Lopez was put on life support at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois, after he was born on April 23. Doctor previously said the family that he had suffered severe brain damage due to a lack of oxygen.
“It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of baby Yovanny Jadiel Lopez,” family spokeswoman Julie Contreras told the Chicago Tribune in a statement. “He passed away this Friday, June 14, 2019, from his severe brain injury. Please keep his family in your thoughts & prayers as they go through this difficult time.”
It comes days after a mother and daughter were indicted in the slaying of Ochoa after one of the women, 46-year-old Clarisa Figueroa, allegedly lured her to her home with the promise of free baby items. Then, along with her daughter, 24-year-old Desiree Figueroa, she killed the teen before extracting the baby.
The baby cut from the womb of slain teen mother Marlen Ochoa-Lopez dies after weeks on life support, a family spokesperson says. https://t.co/eapD0SCNs6
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) June 14, 2019
Clarisa Figueroa’s boyfriend, Piotr Bobak, was charged with concealing a homicide.
The gruesome case stunned Chicago, infamous for seeing hundreds of homicides per year, and made headlines nationwide.
According to WGN, a funeral will be held for Yovanny in the future, which will be a private event.
Regarding the baby, Ochoa’s family said they were praying for a miracle to happen, despite a grim prognosis from medical staff.
Baby of murdered pregnant Chicago woman dies: https://t.co/C06hNdKXgk pic.twitter.com/YSiSqSQUyS
— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) June 14, 2019
Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi told NBC Chicago on June 14 that he expects both women to face murder charges in connection with the baby’s death.
Officials said that Clarisa Figueroa’s adult son died of natural causes, and she later told family members that she was pregnant before plotting for months to get a newborn baby. She also posted an ultrasound and photos of room that was decorated with baby items on social media, NBC Chicago reported.
When they lured Ochoa to their home, officials contend that one distracted her with a photo album before Clarisa strangled her from behind.
Clarisa later called 911 and said her newborn baby wasn’t breathing. The child was blue when first responded, and they tried to resuscitate the infant before taking him to Christ Medical Center, NBC Chicago reported.
Ochoa’s body was found outside of Clarisa’s home after a missing person alert was sent out.
Officials said the younger Figueroa gave “a full video-recorded confession” in assisting her mother in killing Ochoa, who is also known as Marlen Ochoa-Lopez, the Tribune reported.
Prosecutors also alleged that Bobak helped clean the scene after the murder and later posted the crowdfunding website on his Facebook page.
