Man gets 4 years, probation in case of baby cut from womb

CHICAGO (AP) — A man was sentenced to four years in prison Monday for obstructing justice in the April 2019 killing of a pregnant Chicago teenager whose baby was cut from her womb with a butcher knife.

Piotr Bobak, 44, who was dating the suspect at the time of the killing, received credit for time served and will leave prison in nearly four months. He then must serve six months of probation under a plea agreement, court records said.

Marlen Ochoa-Lopez, 19, was nine months pregnant when she went to Clarisa Figueroa’s home believing she was getting free baby items after the two connected in a Facebook group.

Prosecutors said Figueroa's daughter, Desiree Figueroa, distracted Ochoa-Lopez with a photo album while her mother strangled Ochoa-Lopez. Her baby boy, Yovanny Jadiel Lopez, then was cut from her womb with a butcher’s knife.

Hours later, Clarisa Figueroa allegedly came running out of the home claiming she had just given birth to a baby boy and that he wasn’t breathing. The boy suffered brain injuries and was hospitalized, but died months later.

Marlen-Ochoa’s body was found in a trash bin.

Bobak said at the hearing he was misled by his “then-girlfriend” and her daughter. He said he had no prior knowledge of what the women planned to do, but used “poor judgment” after the fact when cleaning up the crime scene.

The Figueroas both have pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, kidnapping, dismembering a body, and concealing a homicide. Their cases are still pending.