Clarisa Figueroa, a Chicago woman, pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 50 years in prison for luring a pregnant teenager to her home and cutting her baby from her womb with a butcher knife nearly five years ago. The victim, Marlen Ochoa-Lopez, was nine months pregnant when Figueroa strangled her with a cable. Figueroa then called 911, claiming she had given birth and the child was not breathing. The child died about two months later, leaving Ochoa-Lopez’s husband devastated and their older child motherless.
Authorities discovered that Figueroa, who had falsely claimed to be pregnant after her adult son’s death, plotted for months to acquire a newborn. She even posted an ultrasound and photos of a decorated baby room on Facebook. In March 2019, she connected with Ochoa-Lopez on a Facebook page for pregnant women. Detectives investigating Ochoa-Lopez’s disappearance found that she had gone to Figueroa’s home, and later discovered her body in a garbage can outside the house. DNA tests eventually revealed that the child was not Figueroa’s.
Figueroa’s boyfriend, Piotr Bobak, was also implicated in the crime, as he was tricked into believing he was the father of the stolen child. Bobak cleaned up the crime scene and was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice. Desiree Figueroa, Clarisa’s daughter, pleaded guilty to murder for her role in the crime and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. She had agreed to testify against her mother in court, which led to her guilty plea and sentencing.
During the sentencing hearing, Yovanny Lopez, Ochoa-Lopez’s husband, described the ongoing pain and suffering he and his children have endured as a result of the tragedy. He recounted the agony of holding his infant son during his last breath and expressed his belief that “God’s justice will be served” upon Clarisa Figueroa. Figueroa, sitting in a wheelchair and wearing a bright yellow jumpsuit, did not provide a statement but acknowledged that she understood the terms of her sentence, which prohibits early release on parole.
The case of Marlen Ochoa-Lopez’s murder shocked the Chicago community and prompted a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. The gruesome details of Figueroa’s actions, including the elaborate plotting and deception leading up to the crime, underscored the extent of her premeditation. The tragic loss of Ochoa-Lopez and her infant son continues to weigh heavily on her family and loved ones, as they seek closure and justice for the heinous crimes committed against them.
