Defendant allegedly stabbed mother-to-be
By Daily Press staff
A Santa Monica woman is expected to stand trial beginning today for allegedly killing a 23-week-old fetus.
Victoria Nadine Caldwell-Later, 35, was charged in December with one count of murder and one count of attempted murder. If convicted, she faces between 25 years and life in prison, officials said.
Caldwell-Later was arrested Dec. 1 at a home on the 1800 block of 18th Street, where she had been living for several weeks, said P.J. Morris, homicide coordinator for LAPD’s northeast division.
Caldwell-Later allegedly stabbed a 32-year-old pregnant woman outside of her home in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles on Oct. 13, 2005. The woman survived, but her unborn daughter did not, Det. Morris said.
The victim was leaving her home to go to work when Caldwell-Later allegedly approached her and stabbed her, Morris said. The two women reportedly knew each other.
LAPD detectives also served a search warrant at a home in the 1100 block of Ozone Street, where several items were seized as evidence. Morris declined to discuss the nature of the evidence seized or if the murder weapon was recovered.
The trial is expected to last 10 days in front of Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Curtis B. Rappe, according to court clerk Porfirio Rodriguez.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 3, 2006. Read the original PDF.