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Body found at home of Pa. mystery baby suspect
Autopsy scheduled on bound body found at home of Pa. woman who claimed she bought newborn
(PITTSBURGH) Authorities hope an autopsy can help them identify a woman's body found with hands bound with duct tape at the apartment of a woman who showed up at a hospital with a newborn she falsely claimed was hers.
The body was found Friday in the bedroom of the Wilkinsburg home of 38-year-old Andrea Curry-Demus, who served time in the 1990s for attacking one mother and kidnapping a second woman's newborn baby.
On Thursday Curry-Demus allegedly told police she had paid $1,000 for the baby after authorities say tests proved she wasn't the child's mother.
Allegheny CountyMedical Examiner Dr. Karl Williams said the woman had been dead about 24 hours, but Williams said he could not tell if she had recently given birth. The autopsy was scheduled for Saturday.
Some blood was found near the body, Williams said, but he would not say if there were signs of trauma.
Investigators said police checked on Curry-Demus' apartment after reporters called authorities about a foul odor coming from inside. Wilkinsburg Police Chief Ophelia Coleman said the body was found lying face down.
Police had been at the building Thursday night, but did not go into that apartment, Coleman said. Instead, a relative of Curry-Demus led them to another apartment, she said.
Earlier Friday, police said they were concerned that the infant's real mother — described as a thin, black female in her 20s or 30s named Tina — might be in danger, or need medical attention.
The description was provided by Curry-Demus but authorities aren't sure how reliable it is because she "has a history of emotional problems," Coleman said. The body found Friday was that of a black woman, but Williams said he couldn't tell how old she was.
The families of two missing pregnant women, both of them black, waited at the crime scene Friday night for police to identify the body.
Curry-Demus told police she paid a woman named Tina $1,000 for the baby, but authorities have said they don't know how she got the baby.
A relative and a neighbor both said they had attended a baby shower for Curry-Demus last month.
Stephanie Epps, 41, the suspect's sister-in-law, said she had doubted the pregnancy.
"I just had a feeling that she wasn't pregnant," Epps said. "She would never let you touch her stomach and pregnant women let you do that. ... I liked her and I still do like her."
Ivee Blunt, a neighbor who also was at the shower, said Curry-Demus wanted her in the delivery room when she gave birth.
Blunt said Curry-Demus told her on Sunday night that she expected to have the baby the next day; but on Monday, she said, Curry-Demus told her she wasn't ready to give birth.
Autopsy scheduled on bound body found at home of Pa. woman who claimed she bought newborn ... more -
Pittsburgh Mystery Baby Doing Well; Mother Still Unknown
Police said a woman arrived at West Penn Hospital by ambulance with a newborn boy who still had his umbilical cord attached and claimed the baby was hers.
But a hormone test at the hospital determined she was never pregnant, and investigators said the woman -- Andrea Demus, 38, of Wilkinsburg -- had bought the infant for $1,000.
Police said they charged Demus with endangering the welfare of a child after she told them that she bought the baby from a woman named Tina, who brought the baby to her home.
According to the criminal complaint, Demus said she had a recent miscarriage, so she agreed to buy a baby.
While leaving the Wilkinsburg Police Department, Demus said, "I didn't do nothing."
She was arraigned overnight and is now at the Allegheny County Jail.
The baby is doing well at the hospital, police said, although they still don't know who the mother is.
"I'm sure there is a concern that there could be an injured woman somewhere or if there's a woman seeking treatment for her follow-up care after giving birth," Pittsburgh police Cmdr. Thomas Stangrecki said.
Records show that Demus was arrested in 1990 for stabbing a Wilkinsburg mother while allegedly plotting to kidnap the woman's baby. She pleaded guilty in 1991 to aggravated assault and was sentenced to 10 years of probation. Police said a woman arrived at West Penn Hospital by ambulance with a newborn boy who still had his umbilical cord attached and claime... more -
The world's 10 worst cities
You may already know about the pollution plight of Linfen, China. But how about the heavy metals Pittsburghers breathe in on a daily basis? Or the incomparable smog Milanesi put up with? PopSci has culled an eye-opening selection of some of the world's most problematic cities. From the painfully high cancer rates in Sumgayit, Azerbaijan to the acid rain destroying La Oroya, Peru, writer Jason Daley will walk you through the lowest of the low; and explain why, despite it all, there's still hope for these places.
You may already know about the pollution plight of Linfen, China. But how about the heavy metals Pittsburghers breathe in on a daily b... more -
Food Fight: Greater PGH Community Food Bank, deleted scenes.
Hey everyone,
Here's two really nice moments from my interview with Joyce Rothermel, the CEO for the Greater PGH Community Food Bank, which didn't make it to the rough rough cut that I posted earlier.
Hey everyone, ... more -
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank (rough rough cut)
This is an interview with Joyce Rothermel, CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank since 1987, which distributes items to 11 counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
This is an interview with Joyce Rothermel, CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank since 1987, which distributes items to 11... more -
Pittsburgh: Dosh @Garfield Artworks 5/25
Martin Luther King Chavez Dosh (born September 6, 1972), known in music as Dosh, is a musician and multi-instrumentalist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As an artist, Dosh is a percussionist who uses various electronics, often with a Fender Rhodes. Dosh has been characterized mostly as experimental and electronic-based due to his use of many samplers and looping machines and the rhythmic feel of much of his music, with songs often relying on Dosh alone on keyboards, xylophone, and drums. Dosh is often in collaboration with other musicians during live sets and on recording, both locally and nationally known. Martin Luther King Chavez Dosh (born September 6, 1972), known in music as Dosh, is a musician and multi-instrumentalist based in Minn... more
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Pittsburgh: Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra @Mr. Smalls 6/5
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-La-La Band are a Canadian post-rock band originating from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. For simplicity, they are often referred to as Silver Mt. Zion. Formed in 1999, the band currently comprises seven members, of which three are also involved with Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Since inception, the group has undergone numerous personnel changes. The group is releasing a new album entitled 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons in March 2008. The album, which consists of four tracks, is wholly comprised of songs previously debuted at live performances. Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-La-La Band are a Canadian post-rock band originating from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Fo... more
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Pittsburgh named sootiest city in the nation
But in the American Lung Association's "State of the Air: 2008" report, Los Angeles still took the all-around pollution award.
However, this is not because air pollution in Pittsburgh is increasing, rather, Los Angeles initiated programs to reduce pollution in recent years.
Fargo, ND and Salinas, CA were named the cleanest cities. But in the American Lung Association's "State of the Air: 2008" report, Los Angeles still took the all-around pollution award. ... more -
How do I stole pool?
State police at Uniontown are investigating how someone managed to steal a 4,000-gallon fiberglass swimming pool from the Quick Lube in South Union. State police at Uniontown are investigating how someone managed to steal a 4,000-gallon fiberglass swimming pool from the Quick Lube i... more
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Voter Profile: Schuyler Hernstrom. Pittsburgh, PA.
Schuyler Hernstrom manages to do something that seems impossible. He expresses the unique and the common. His perspective is in some ways quite unusual and yet he expresses something that appears to be running deep in American voters these days.
He's also my older brother. (As you can imagine, he typically got to choose the Saturday morning cartoons.) Schuyler Hernstrom manages to do something that seems impossible. He expresses the unique and the common. His perspective is in some w... more -
SPOILED HEAT a litany
This is a deeply personal non-linear documentary piece of witnessing to the losses that still linger in the capital of the Rust Belt, Pittsburgh, PA.
I am an artist and poet. I moved to Pittsburgh in 2002. Every day I meet echoes of the losses of the steel industry. For a while I thought I was going crazy, witnessing patterns of behavior that didn't make sense to me, particularly from people in their 40's and older.
Others 'Burgh newbies have told me about adapting to sometimes-insular local behavior patterns. They noticed the odd sensitivities of some of the people who, we later learned, stayed when others left*.
Synchronicity has introduced me to people who tell me their stories. Perhaps because I am an outsider, who will not be hurt revisiting my own pain.
I shot the video and stills in Braddock, PA, a former mill town neighboring Pittsburgh and fighting for its life. I was introduced to Braddock by a local film production competition hosted by the honorable Mayor John Fetterman. His motto for the city, which lost 90% of its population to the industry loss, is: Destruction breeds creation. Create amidst destruction.
To learn more about Braddock, take a look at http://www.15104.cc/
To see more of my art work, go to http://www.drawclose.com
* - Pittsburgh has lost more than half its population since 1970 (the diaspora). People moved all over the country. The reason there are Steelers fans at every NFL Steeler away game is not because the fans travel. It is because the fans live in that city. This is a deeply personal non-linear documentary piece of witnessing to the losses that still linger in the capital of the Rust Belt, ... more -
Minneapolis: Black Moth Super Rainbow @First Ave Entry 3/27
Black Moth Super Rainbow is an experimental band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Their music contains elements of psychedelia, folk, electronica, and pop. Their distinctive sound is characterized by analog electronic instruments including the vocoder, Rhodes piano, and Novatron. The band formed in 2002, and has existed in its current five-member lineup since 2003. Little is known about the band or its members, as they have kept themselves something of an enigma. Black Moth Super Rainbow is an experimental band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Their music contains elements of psychedelia, folk, el... more
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Voter Profile: Kelly Horvath. Pittsburgh, PA.
Pittsburgh's economy is not exactly on fire. Though we have several big universities and trade schools, we don't have many ways to employ (and therefore retain) the masses of educated, motivated and massively indebted young people in town.
So you can imagine, plans for the economy will play a key role in this presidential election.
Kelly Horvath takes a break from her three jobs to talk about her electoral concerns and who she might vote for. Pittsburgh's economy is not exactly on fire. Though we have several big universities and trade schools, we don't have many ways to emp... more -
Pittsburgh's Future
Pittsburgh wants to give its downtown a second chance at revitalization.
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short documentary on puppets!
Here is a trailer to a 21 min film I made about the behind the scenes of Pinocchio, a play put on by Point Park University right here in Pittsburgh,PA!
do you want to watch the film now? Here is a trailer to a 21 min film I made about the behind the scenes of Pinocchio, a play put on by Point Park University right here ... more -
The Economy Is Going Off The Cliff
The Economy Is Going Off The Cliff. If you can't tell, You must not be on earth Funky Fingers explains!
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Test your 'Christmas Story' knowledge with this quiz!
While TBS is running their 24 hour "Christmas Story" marathon, be sure to check up on your trivia with this quiz! I went through many questions with my family, who are fanatics of the flick, and we were stumped by some of the questions. Good luck! While TBS is running their 24 hour "Christmas Story" marathon, be sure to check up on your trivia with this quiz! I went through many ... more
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(Steel) Cities outtake. Bill Peduto on values in revitalization.
We had to cut this bit from the final version of (Steel) Cities of the Future, but really wanted it to see the light of day.
Enjoy,
Ben
Ambulantic We had to cut this bit from the final version of (Steel) Cities of the Future, but really wanted it to see the light of day. ... more -
Big People
Home in Pittsburgh for the holidays? Check out the Andy Warhol Museum, where an exclusive sculpture exhibit by Ron Mueck is on display till March. If you're low on time, the Warhol has special hours on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve so you can find time to go. Home in Pittsburgh for the holidays? Check out the Andy Warhol Museum, where an exclusive sculpture exhibit by Ron Mueck is on display... more
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Who wants to be in "Porno"?
One of my favorite directors, Kevin Smith, is filming his new flick in Pittsburgh this January. "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks, is casting extras, and props to Nancy Mosser Casting--my past summer internship home!
I love how open and awesome Smith is in his blog! In past posts, he's printed his convos between him and Rogen about casting--he's amazing. One of my favorite directors, Kevin Smith, is filming his new flick in Pittsburgh this January. "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" starring ... more
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