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Missouri woman sentenced for kidnapping baby

By Associated Press

Union, MO – An eastern Missouri woman is sentenced to 30 years in prison for the slashing of a young mother's throat and the kidnapping of her newborn.

Shannon Torrez, of Lonedell, was sentenced Friday afternoon at the Franklin County Courthouse.

Torrez, 38, entered an Alford plea in May to one count each of child kidnapping, armed criminal action and first-degree assault. She did not admit guilt with her plea but conceded there was enough evidence for a guilty verdict.

She was given 30 years on each charge, with the sentences to run concurrently.

She was accused of attacking then-21-year-old Stephenie Ochsenbine at the mother's rural Franklin County home on Sept. 15, 2006, and taking 7-day-old Abby Woods.

The abduction set off a frantic search that drew national attention to the rural area about 45 miles southwest of St. Louis. The search ended happily five days later when Abby was found, unharmed. Ochsenbine recovered from her wounds.

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