Accused baby kidnapper to wage insanity defense
NORRISTOWN >> A Chester County woman accused of kidnapping a baby from its mother at the King of Prussia Plaza shopping complex intends to wage an insanity defense at trial, court papers reveal.
Cherie R. Amoore, 32, of the 900 block of Upper Gulph Road, Tredyffrin, through her lawyer, Marc R. Steinberg, filed papers in Montgomery County Court on Thursday notifying Judge William R. Carpenter about the defense strategy.
“Defendant suffered from dissociative episode secondary to false pregnancy and subsequent depression,” Steinberg wrote in court papers, indicating he intends to call two psychiatrists and a forensic psychologist at trial “to establish said defense.”
Steinberg could not be reached for comment for additional comments about the strategy.
Pennsylvania law requires defendants to notify a judge about a planned insanity defense as well as the names and addresses of expert witnesses whom the defendant intends to call at trial to support the defense.
Under state law, a person who is diagnosed as insane suffers from a mental defect that prevents them from knowing right from wrong or from realizing the nature and quality of their actions.
A person who is determined to be not guilty by reason of insanity at trial initially could be committed to a mental health facility for treatment and receive periodic evaluations. Once that person is deemed “cured” of mental illness they could be released from supervision with no requirement to serve any jail time.
Amoore is awaiting trial on charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment, unlawful restraint, recklessly endangering another person, endangering the welfare of a child, concealment of whereabouts of a child and interference with the custody of a child in connection with the March 31 abduction of 7-month-old Ashir Simmons.
Amoore, who is scheduled for a pretrial conference in August, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Assistant District Attorney Brianna Ringwood is handling the case.
The baby was found unharmed at Amoore’s residence following an extensive five-hour search involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
Authorities alleged surveillance video shows Amoore approaching Simmons’ mother at the Plaza about 5:40 p.m., sitting down with her at the food court in the lower level, engaging her in conversation and then absconding with the infant as the mother was tending to another child. The child’s mother did not know Amoore, detectives said.
The video showed Amoore leaving the shopping center with the baby, taking two steps at a time as she hurried up a stairwell leading to a mall exit, according to the criminal complaint.
Through information provided by witnesses, investigators were able to identify Amoore as the person who abducted the baby, according to court documents. At 10:18 p.m., investigators went to Amoore’s residence.
“I took the baby and I am sorry,” Amoore allegedly told detectives as she answered the door.
The baby was found inside the apartment uninjured and asleep in a car seat belonging to Amoore, according to the arrest affidavit.
Amoore told police that she had taken the baby in a rush of emotions caused by losing her own baby in February, according to the criminal complaint.
“I don’t know why I did it. I can’t explain it. I held him and all those feelings rushed back,” Amoore told detectives, according to the criminal complaint. “I just wanted my baby. It felt like I was holding my son again. It felt so good. I didn’t want to lose that feeling. I was crazy. I never intended to do anything like this.”
Amoore, whose mother is Pennsylvania Republican Party Deputy Chairwoman Renee Amoore, posted $500,000 bail April 6 and was released from the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, to await further court action.