BARTLESVILLE woman to return to court in August for formal sentencing

Sunday, June 24th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (AP) _ A 22-year-old Bartlesville woman will return to court for fomal sentencing Aug. 31 after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the death of her baby.

Erica Lynn Adair, who earlier waived a right to a jury trial, entered a guilty plea during a hearing in Washington County District Court on Thursday. Prosecutors are seeking a 10-year prison term.

In court records, Adair said her pregnancy was a surprise and that she wasn't sure she was carrying a child until six months had passed.

``I had a baby in my parents' bathroom, and I didn't know the baby was alive,'' Adair said. The Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office determined that the baby had been alive at birth.

Police arrested Adair Dec. 31 after she raised suspicion when she went to the emergency room at Jane Phillips Medical Center complaining of severe vaginal bleeding. Two doctors determined that she had delivered a baby recently, although she denied having been pregnant, according to a court affidavit.

While Adair was denying her pregnancy in the hospital, her friend called the facility asking if Adair had given birth yet, the affidavit states. The friend told police that Adair was pregnant and ``was trying to conceal the fact from her parents.''

Adair eventually told police that she had delivered her baby at home, that the baby was dead and that ``she wrapped the baby up and put the baby underneath her bed,'' according to the affidavit.