LONGMONT, Colo. – Michelle Wilkins, the pregnant Longmont woman who was viciously attacked while answering a Craigslist ad for baby clothes and then had her baby taken out of her womb, expressed her thanks in another note posted to her GoFundMe page on Wednesday morning.
Wilkins writes that she reads all of the cards that have been sent and notes that have been posted to the GoFundMe page.
‘My heart is full of gratitude that words can never convey,” she concludes. “Thank you.”
Dear supporters and well-wishers,
I want to give another round of appreciation to people still sending me their positivity, caring, and contributions, each in their own way. I want to tell people that I have read every single card sent in the mail, every note on the go fund me page, and give thanks to every name I see contributing monetary funds to my recovery. Without your prayers and well wishes lifting me up, I don’t know where I’d be. Words can’t express my thanks though I will still try.
A special thank you also to True West Productions who rallied the Longmont community and spent their time and energy organizing an event on my behalf. I am constantly in awe of the generosity of spirit of this community. Had I not been resting and recovering, I would love to have been able to attend barrel racing and gymkhana. Sounds like a great time, being a rider myself!
I saw your willingness to give of your time and energy to pull this event together, and, in doing so, it is an opportunity to heal because it is all of us suffering, and all of us healing from tragedies that have sent shock waves through the community. My heart is full of gratitude that words can never convey. Thank you.
More than $111,000 has been donated to Wilkins’ fund on GoFundMe.
Wilkins was responding to an ad on Craigslist for baby clothes on March 18 when Longmont police said the seller, Dynel Lane, attacked her, opened her womb and took the baby girl, leaving Wilkins bleeding in the basement.
Wilkins called 911 and was rescued by first responders. She had surgery at Longmont United Hospital and spent a week there before she was released on March 25. She is “in a safe place,” according to her family.
Lane allegedly took the unborn fetus to Longmont United, saying she had miscarriage. The baby did not survive.
An autopsy performed on the 34-week fetus showed no signs of life outside of the womb, the Boulder County Coroner’s Office said. There was also no evidence of trauma or injuries.
Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett said his office would not seek a murder charge against Lane.
Lane, 34, was formally charged March 27 with eight felony counts, including attempted murder and unlawful termination of a pregnancy. She’s also charged with two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault and two counts of a crime of violence.
Lane, who is being held in the Boulder County jail in lieu of $2 million bail, is facing a maximum 48 years in prison on the attempted murder charge and 32 years on the charge of unlawful termination. She has a preliminary hearing May 5.