Pregnant teen accused in frying pan attack surrenders to police in Utah after 2 weeks

Tuesday, January 30th 2007, 8:53 pm

By: News On 6

AMERICAN FORK, Utah (AP) _ One of the three pregnant teens who authorities say attacked the caretaker of a maternity home with a frying pan turned herself into police after two weeks on the run.

The 15-year-old surrendered Monday afternoon and is now in a juvenile center awaiting a hearing on allegations including aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated robbery and auto theft, police said.

The girl's mother drove her to the station from California after making arrangements with police, Sgt. Shauna Greening said.

The whereabouts of the other two pregnant teenagers suspected in the case are still unknown.

The trio struck Jana Moody with a frying pan Jan. 16, then bound her and another pregnant girl and dashed away in the woman's van with her credit card, police said. Moody was not seriously injured. The van was found abandoned in Los Angeles County on Jan. 23.

Investigators interviewed the girl but aren't discussing what they've learned, Greening said.

``We just want to encourage the others to turn themselves in,'' she said. ``We're concerned that they are out in the cold; they may be out on the streets.''

New Hope Maternity Home, 30 miles south of Salt Lake City, is a place for teens to learn about prenatal care, adoption and parenting.