New Twist Uncovered in Stillborn Murder Case

In case there was ever any question that this lady was sick:

New Twist Uncovered in Stillborn Murder Case
Mar. 12, 2004
Sandra Yi Reporting

A woman charged with murder in the death of her stillborn baby is getting
national attention, and that news coverage is bringing interesting new
information to light.

Melissa Rowland is in the Salt Lake County jail. We've uncovered evidence
that she was offering to put her baby up for adoption in exchange for bail
money-a baby that died two months ago.

Sandra Yi spoke to a California couple tonight who was interested in
adopting that baby. Melissa Rowland first called Brian Farley from jail on
February 26. She told him she was about to have a baby and was looking for a
couple to adopt him. But that wasn't all.

Brian Farley: "Fortunately, I was smart enough to recognize that she's
probably pulling a scam on me, but unfortunately my heart got involved in
this."

Brian Farley and his wife want to adopt a baby. They were hopeful when they
got a call from Melissa Rowland. He says she called him numerous times in
the past two weeks, from the Salt Lake County Jail.

Brian Farley: "She told me she was pregnant, but she also told me that she
knew the sex was going to be a boy and she was already two days late."

But what Farley didn't know was Rowland wasn't pregnant. She had given birth
to twins, one stillborn, in January.

Yesterday, prosecutors charged her for the murder of the stillborn boy. They
say she rejected the advice of doctors at three different hospitals who
recommended a C-section to save the child. Farley heard the news, this
morning.

Brian Farley: "It just sends chills. My wife is in chills. We're just sick
over this."

Farley says Rowland offered her child for adoption. In exchange, she asked
him to get her out of jail.

Brian Farley: "She begged and pleaded for me to post bond for her. She
didn't want to be an inmate when she gave birth."

Farley refused because he thought Rowland was a flight risk. Still, he says,
he had hope. "And I said, 'Are you willing to sign adoption papers with me?
If you are, I'll get on a plan and fly to Salt Lake and sit in the hospital
with you.' And she goes, 'Are you willing to bail me out of jail?' and I
said, 'No'. And she said, 'Well, I got a father in Florida. I'm trying to
work with him right now. Let me get back with you.' And that was the last I
ever heard from her."

Now Farley and his wife are heartbroken. He says Rowland seemed desperate,
but sincere.

Brian Farley: "My wife is so upset. It's unbelievable. She's in tears and
I'm shaking mad. It's just ridiculous."

Farley says his adoption agency may have given Rowland the number to other
prospective adoptive parents. He was trying to contact his lawyer today and
says he will call the Salt Lake District Attorney's Office with his story on
Monday.

Jail records and other information about Melissa Rowland paint a picture of
a troubled past. She was a twin born to a mentally retarded mother. Rowland
was placed in foster care almost immediately and adopted before her first
birthday.

At the age of 12 Rowland was committed to a Pennsylvania mental hospital,
diagnosed with "oppositional defiant disorder", a condition defined by
hostile and uncooperative behavior.

Rowland told her attorney she was hospitalized in a mental facility at least
one other time and diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Her attorney is awaiting
records to confirm that.

In January of 2000 Rowland was sentenced to five years probation in
Pennsylvania for abusing her two year old daughter. Customers in a
supermarket called police when Rowland punched and slapped the child in the
store. That child was placed in foster care.

And before this week's murder charge Rowland was jailed in Utah for
endangerment of the twin girl, who was born alive. That charge is based on
allegations Rowland tested positive for alcohol and cocaine immediately
after the birth.

Here's a link to a pic of her and yet another article about it.
Here's an excerpt with some info I hadn't previously heard:
__________________________________________________ _
For her part, Rowland, in a jailhouse interview with KSL Newsradio
1160, said she came to Utah from Florida in November to have the
babies and place them for adoption because she and the birth father
could not take care of the children. She denies she was advised to
have a C-section with the twins and also denies she refused to have
one to avoid a scar.

She said the twins were ultimately born by C-section. "I've never
refused a C-section," Rowland said. "I've already had two prior
C-sections. Why would I say something like that?"
__________________________________________________
read the rest he
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595048573,00.html

Not saying I believe her, I just hadn't heard all of this before.



On Sun, 14 Mar 2004 08:27:11 +1300, "Amy"
wrote:

In case there was ever any question that this lady was sick:

New Twist Uncovered in Stillborn Murder Case
Mar. 12, 2004
Sandra Yi Reporting

A woman charged with murder in the death of her stillborn baby is getting
national attention, and that news coverage is bringing interesting new
information to light.

Melissa Rowland is in the Salt Lake County jail. We've uncovered evidence
that she was offering to put her baby up for adoption in exchange for bail
money-a baby that died two months ago.

Sandra Yi spoke to a California couple tonight who was interested in
adopting that baby. Melissa Rowland first called Brian Farley from jail on
February 26. She told him she was about to have a baby and was looking for a
couple to adopt him. But that wasn't all.

Brian Farley: "Fortunately, I was smart enough to recognize that she's
probably pulling a scam on me, but unfortunately my heart got involved in
this."

Brian Farley and his wife want to adopt a baby. They were hopeful when they
got a call from Melissa Rowland. He says she called him numerous times in
the past two weeks, from the Salt Lake County Jail.

Brian Farley: "She told me she was pregnant, but she also told me that she
knew the sex was going to be a boy and she was already two days late."

But what Farley didn't know was Rowland wasn't pregnant. She had given birth
to twins, one stillborn, in January.

Yesterday, prosecutors charged her for the murder of the stillborn boy. They
say she rejected the advice of doctors at three different hospitals who
recommended a C-section to save the child. Farley heard the news, this
morning.

Brian Farley: "It just sends chills. My wife is in chills. We're just sick
over this."

Farley says Rowland offered her child for adoption. In exchange, she asked
him to get her out of jail.

Brian Farley: "She begged and pleaded for me to post bond for her. She
didn't want to be an inmate when she gave birth."

Farley refused because he thought Rowland was a flight risk. Still, he says,
he had hope. "And I said, 'Are you willing to sign adoption papers with me?
If you are, I'll get on a plan and fly to Salt Lake and sit in the hospital
with you.' And she goes, 'Are you willing to bail me out of jail?' and I
said, 'No'. And she said, 'Well, I got a father in Florida. I'm trying to
work with him right now. Let me get back with you.' And that was the last I
ever heard from her."

Now Farley and his wife are heartbroken. He says Rowland seemed desperate,
but sincere.

Brian Farley: "My wife is so upset. It's unbelievable. She's in tears and
I'm shaking mad. It's just ridiculous."

Farley says his adoption agency may have given Rowland the number to other
prospective adoptive parents. He was trying to contact his lawyer today and
says he will call the Salt Lake District Attorney's Office with his story on
Monday.

Jail records and other information about Melissa Rowland paint a picture of
a troubled past. She was a twin born to a mentally retarded mother. Rowland
was placed in foster care almost immediately and adopted before her first
birthday.

At the age of 12 Rowland was committed to a Pennsylvania mental hospital,
diagnosed with "oppositional defiant disorder", a condition defined by
hostile and uncooperative behavior.

Rowland told her attorney she was hospitalized in a mental facility at least
one other time and diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Her attorney is awaiting
records to confirm that.

In January of 2000 Rowland was sentenced to five years probation in
Pennsylvania for abusing her two year old daughter. Customers in a
supermarket called police when Rowland punched and slapped the child in the
store. That child was placed in foster care.

And before this week's murder charge Rowland was jailed in Utah for
endangerment of the twin girl, who was born alive. That charge is based on
allegations Rowland tested positive for alcohol and cocaine immediately
after the birth.


#1 EDD 5/14/04