Pubdate: Fri, 19 Aug 2005
Source: Salt Lake Tribune (UT)
Copyright: 2005 The Salt Lake Tribune
Contact:  http://www.sltrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/383
Author: Nate Carlisle

BABY SURVIVES VIOLENT DEATH OF PREGNANT MOM

Motel Shooting: The Killing Most Likely Was Drug-Related, Police Say; 
Doctors Save The Child With A Caesarean Section

Trouble had long followed Darla Marie Woundedhead and her children.

She lost custody of three of her kids, at least two of whom were born with 
drugs in their system.

Woundedhead, 30, who was due to give birth again in two months, was killed 
Thursday when someone fired a shotgun through a Salt Lake City motel room 
doorway.

Struck in the upper abdomen and chest, Woundedhead died a short time later 
at LDS Hospital. Doctors performed an emergency Caesarean section operation 
to remove the child, a girl, who remained in critical condition late 
Thursday at the hospital.

Meanwhile, police are looking for the person or persons who killed 
Woundedhead. Specifically, officers are looking for Kerri Armant. Armant is 
described as 32, Caucasian, with dishwater blond hair in cornrows or 
multiple braids, 5 foot 3 inches tall and 210 pounds. She also is known as 
Kerri Wulfenstein.

Police spokesman Dwayne Baird said Armant was last seen leaving the motel 
driving a small, gray or silver, four-door compact car.

"We're not certain she pulled the trigger," said Baird, "but we think she 
was there and has some responsibility."

The incident occurred shortly after 1 a.m. at the Dream Inn, 1865 W. North 
Temple.

Baird said one or more people knocked on the door of Room 26. Woundedhead 
answered, and someone fired a shotgun through the doorway, striking her. 
Baird said detectives recovered two shotgun shells from the scene. One 
blast hurled pellets into the door frame, leaving dozens of pin-size holes.

Albert Johnson, 52, a Baltimore resident traveling to Seattle, said he was 
watching TV in his room when he heard two shots, then five more.

"It could have been firecrackers at first, but then, when I heard it again, 
I knew it was real," he said.

Emergency crews arrived at the scene and transported Woundedhead to the 
hospital, where she died.

Baird said investigators "have an idea" what spurred the shooting, but he 
declined to say what it was, saying that is part of the evidence in the case.

He said illegal drugs might have played a factor. Drugs and drug 
paraphernalia were found in the room.

Motel manager Shinae Jang said Woundedhead was not registered in Room 26. 
Baird said Woundedhead was there visiting someone else.

Investigators took eight witnesses to a police station for questioning and 
have spoken to people who saw Woundedhead's shooting.

He said the witnesses are not suspects, but there are other unknown 
suspects at large beside Armant, Baird said. The relationship between 
Armant and Woundedhead was unclear Thursday, Baird said.

Woundedhead, also known as Darla Longsoldier and Melissa Tom, had a lengthy 
criminal history, including convictions for prostitution, sexual 
solicitation, aggravated assault and possession, use and distribution of 
drugs, according to court records.

Some of the charges were for possessing cocaine, psychotoxic chemicals and 
inhaling toxic vapors.

In June 2000, Woundedhead was picked up by an undercover officer on State 
Street in Salt Lake City. She offered to perform a sexual act on him for 
$50. He attempted to arrest her, but she pulled a knife and threatened to 
cut the officer. He let her go - she ran down the street yelling 
"entrapment!" - but she was found and arrested the next day.

On Feb. 3, 2000, the day one of her children was born, she was investigated 
for illegal drug use and possession. She later pleaded guilty, admitting 
that she used heroin and cocaine within three hours of birth, according to 
the charges.

Woundedhead, who attended school through the 11th grade, enrolled in 
several programs between jail stints, including a nine-week class about 
HIV, hepatitis and other women's health issues and a class on communication 
skills. Both were court ordered. She was also admitted to the Indian 
Alcoholism Counseling and Recovery House and the Odyssey House of Utah.

The Utah Division of Child and Family Services intervened several times 
between 1991 and 2002, said division spokeswoman Carol Sisco.

Woundedhead's boy born in 2000 and another son who is now 8 were removed 
from her home at birth after they tested positive for drugs, and a family 
member has custody of her 14-year-old girl, Sisco said.

LDS Hospital spokesman Jess Gomez, citing federal patient privacy laws, 
declined to say what kind of medical difficulties Woundedhead's newborn is 
facing or if any individual or agency has claimed custody or responsibility 
for the girl. Sisco said DCFS on Thursday was in the process of assigning a 
caseworker who will investigate the situation.

"A lot of times when a child is in the hospital, we don't immediately take 
custody because the child is at least in a safe place for the moment," she 
said.

Police are asking anyone with information about Armant or the shooting to 
call their tip line at 801-799-INFO.

Pamela Manson, Lisa Rosetta and Kirsten Stewart contributed to this story.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth