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Woman Accused of Killing Pregnant Friend Told Police She 'Rescued' Baby

By Eddie Small | January 5, 2016 3:02pm
 Ashleigh Wade pled not guilty to murder charges on Tuesday and is due back in court on April 5.
Ashleigh Wade pled not guilty to murder charges on Tuesday and is due back in court on April 5.
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DNAinfo/Eddie Small

THE BRONX — The woman accused of stabbing her pregnant friend to death and carving the baby out of her stomach told authorities that she "rescued" the fetus from the dying mother.

Ashleigh Wade, 22, told police that she killed the pregnant woman Angelikque Sutton, an elementary school friend, in self-defense and saved the child's life by cutting the child out of her childhood friend.

Wade initially told police on Nov. 20 that the baby was hers.

"She attacked me, and I defended myself. After that I gave birth to my baby," she said, according to court papers. "The baby is mine. I know everyone thinks I stole the baby from her, but I didn't."

Wade changed her story on Nov. 21, admitting that the baby was not hers in a written statement.

However, she still maintained that Sutton attacked her first, saying that Sutton came to her house by surprise one day and started telling Wade that she was mean to her when they were in elementary school together.

"I let he[r] in, and right after coming upstairs she starts bringing up elementary school, saying that I treated her badly and she will never forget. I was confused and questioned her, and she began cornering me in my kitchen," she said, according to court documents.

"I backed up as far as I could and reached for the first weapon I saw, which happened to be a knife, and I stabbed her," she continued.

The two attacked each other with the knife, and Wade eventually stabbed Sutton until she stopped moving, she told police.

Wade said she had previously been pregnant but lost her child at 4.5 months, and she started thinking about her dead child after her fatal fight with Sutton, according to investigators.

"I sat there thinking about my child that died and thought that I couldn't have any more children die, so I rescued the baby," she wrote, according to court documents. "Once she was out I fed her and wrapped her in some blankets to keep her warm."

She said that holding the infant girl "felt right," and she continued claiming it was hers because "I wanted it to be true so badly."

Wade was charged with murder, kidnapping and criminal possession of a weapon and pleaded not guilty  on Tuesday.

She was ruled fit to stand trial following a mental health exam and will be back in court on April 5. She will continue to be held without bail until then.

Wade could face a sentence of up to 50 years to life in prison if convicted, according to the Bronx District Attorney's Office.

Sutton's father Bishop William Sutton said that his daughter's baby, named Jenasis, is still doing well and that prayer was getting them through this tragic situation.

He stressed that Wade was human just like they were and did not appear angry at her despite what has happened to his family.

"We're all about forgiveness, yes," he said. "We are Christians, and she has a soul just like everybody else."