Woman Accused Of Taking Newborn From Maternity Ward Pleads Guilty

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) _ A woman accused of slipping into a hospital maternity ward and abducting a days-old girl pleaded guilty Thursday to aggravated kidnapping. <br/><br/>The trial for Rayshaun Parson,

Thursday, August 16th 2007, 8:29 pm

By: News On 6

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) _ A woman accused of slipping into a hospital maternity ward and abducting a days-old girl pleaded guilty Thursday to aggravated kidnapping.

The trial for Rayshaun Parson, 21, had been set to begin Monday.

Public defender Helen Liggett said her client never wanted to inflict on another mother the pain she went through after losing her own baby before it was born.

``She wishes more than anything in the world that she'd never taken that baby,'' Liggett said.

Prosecutors have said Parson scouted security measures at Covenant Lakeside Hospital and went to another Lubbock maternity ward the day the baby was abducted. Surveillance video showed a woman walking out of the hospital in the middle of the night March 10, carrying a purse and walking past an unstaffed information desk.

The abduction sparked a manhunt and Amber alerts in Texas and New Mexico. The baby was found the next day in Clovis, N.M., where Parson lived.

The girl's mother, Caisha Darthard, was at the hearing but declined to comment other than to say Mychael Darthard-Dawodu is doing ``good.''

Parson has remained in federal custody since her arrest. She faces up to life in prison and a fine of $250,000. A sentencing date hasn't been set.