Arrest made in slaying of pregnant mom

Salt Lake police have in custody a woman whom they call "key" to the investigation into the murder of a pregnant woman.

Kerri Armant, 32, was arrested about 10:45 a.m. Friday at a downtown Salt Lake apartment. She was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail at 6:59 p.m. for investigation of murder and aggravated robbery.

"We have her. We needed her. We got her," said Salt Lake City police detective Kevin Joiner.

Armant was wanted in connection with the shotgun death of 30-year-old Darla Marie Woundedhead. Woundedhead, who was seven months pregnant, was shot and killed early Thursday at the Dream Inn motel, 1865 W. North Temple.

Doctors delivered Woundedhead's baby by emergency C-section. The baby was still in critical condition at LDS Hospital Friday afternoon.

Witnesses said Woundedhead was in a room out of which drugs were being sold, and the assailant may have been there to either rob the dealers or settle a drug-related debt. Eight witnesses were taken to Salt Lake police headquarters for questioning Thursday.

Police have not yet commented on a possible motive. Investigators did find drug paraphernalia inside the room.

By noon Thursday, police announced they were looking for Armant and three men. Joiner could not say Friday if Armant was the alleged shooter. Both Armant and Woundedhead have long criminal records.

Good police work was being credited for tracking down Armant, who was arrested without incident, Joiner said.

Division of Child and Family Services spokeswoman Carol Sisco said the department had been in contact with various members of Woundedhead's family in an effort to determine what should happen to the infant. She said DCFS is expected to have custody of the baby by today.

"We're investigating to see if family members are available and able to take the child," she said.

Under the Indian Child Welfare Act, DCFS workers have also been in contact with the Oglala Sioux tribe to see if they want jurisdiction over the child, Sisco said.

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