Husband of slain pregnant teen Marlen Ochoa-Lopez holds baby cut from wife's womb in heartbreaking photo


Devastating photos shared on social media show the widower of murder victim Marlen Ochoa-Lopez holding the pair's gravely injured newborn as the child barely clings to life. 

The images, posted on Facebook by family friend Cecilia Garcia, capture Yovany Lopez holding his baby, named Yadiel, who was left in critical condition and with little brain function after being cut from his mother's womb by a suspect who allegedly planned to raise the child as her own. 

"We're praying for a miracle," Garcia captioned the heartbreaking images.

Ochoa-Lopez was reported missing by family members on April 23 after she traveled to a home in the southwest Chicago suburb of Scottsdale to meet up with 46-year-old Clarisa Figueroa, who promised her free baby clothing and a stroller. Police say Figueroa and her daughter, 24-year-old Desiree Figueroa, then strangled Ochoa-Lopez with a cord before cutting the infant from her womb.

Figueroa then called an ambulance for herself and the baby, who was reportedly blue in the face, and the pair was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center. 

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services spokesman Jassen Strokosch said Saturday that the hospital did not alert the agency about Figueroa after she arrived at their facility with a critically injured newborn, despite the fact that she showed no signs of having just given birth during a physical exam. 

Strokosch claimed the department was not informed about the case until May 9, amid questions about who had custody of the child and could make medical decisions on his behalf, the Associated Press reports.

DNA testing later revealed that Figueroa was not the baby's mother and that Ochoa-Lopez and her husband, Yovany Lopez, were actually his parents. 

"We don't know what was happening at the hospital," Strokosch said, adding he couldn't speculate as to why the agency wasn't contacted sooner.

Both Figueroas were arrested on Thursday after the victim's body was discovered behind their home and charged with first-degree murder in the death of the 19-year-old expectant mother. The elder Figueroa's boyfriend, 40-year-old Piotr "Pete" Bobak, has been charged with concealment of a homicide.

Ochoa-Lopez's bereaved husband told reporters last week that he couldn't fathom why anyone would hurt his pregnant wife, with whom he already shared a young son.

"She didn't do anything to them, she was a good person," he said. "Knowing she had a family, a 3-year-old son. I can't believe it."

"It's very painful," he added. "Very painful to see your wife, with whom you lived with for four years ... with her eyes closed."

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Photos from the case: