Shocking Confession: Chicago Woman Receives 50-Year Sentence for Murdering Pregnant Teen
A Chicago woman will serve a 50-year prison sentence after confessing to the 2019 murder of a pregnant teenager.
The Murder of Marlen Ochoa Lopez
Clarisa Figueroa, 51, entered a guilty plea to a single count of murder in court on Tuesday as part of a deal with prosecutors, according to court records. The guilty plea comes five years after the brutal murder of 19-year-old Marlen Ochoa Lopez, who had her baby cut from her womb just weeks before her due date and was then tossed into a bag and jammed into a trash can, according to authorities.
The Sentencing
Cook County Circuit Court Judge Peggy Chiampas sentenced Clarisa to 50 years in prison without the possibility of parole after she changed her plea on Tuesday, the same sentence recommended by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Victim’s Family Statement
Clarisa did not speak in court, but the husband and father of the two victims did prepare a statement read by an advocate. “The memory of my infant son’s last breath in my arms is complete agony,” said Yovanny Jadiel Lopez.
Twisted Scheme Unraveled
A bond court proffer obtained by Inside Edition Digital revealed the disturbing details of the crime. Clarisa, who was 46 at the time, told her daughter Desiree she was pregnant in 2018 even though she had her tubes tied. She lured the victim, Marlen Ochoa Lopez, by offering free baby clothes and pretending to be pregnant.
The Shocking Crime Unfolds
Desiree informed her boyfriend about her mother’s sinister plan to murder the young woman, but when threatened, she brushed it off as an April Fool’s joke. Eventually, the two women carried out the brutal murder by strangling Marlen Ochoa Lopez and cutting her unborn child from her womb.
Aftermath and Arrest
Desiree and Clarisa were arrested after police discovered the body. Desiree gave birth in prison six months later, and Clarisa continued to claim the baby was hers. Desiree pled guilty to first-degree murder earlier this year as part of a plea agreement.
Conclusion
The gruesome details of the crime shocked the community, and the swift justice served to Clarisa and Desiree is a reminder that such heinous acts will not go unpunished. May the victims rest in peace, and their tragic story serve as a cautionary tale against the darkness that resides in some hearts.
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