Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- A West Valley woman faces charges accusing her of extorting money from a surrogacy couple.
- Teresa Mertes is accused of demanding money, threatening pregnancy termination and lying about miscarriage.
- The baby was born safely; Mertes faces theft by extortion and attempted theft charges.
WEST VALLEY CITY — A West Valley woman is facing criminal charges accusing her of extorting money from a couple while carrying their surrogate baby.
Teresa Mertes, 33, was charged Tuesday in 3rd District Court with theft by extortion and attempted theft by extortion, third-degree felonies; and attempted theft by deception, a class A misdemeanor.
The bizarre case involves a couple from the Washington, D.C., area who "were in a surrogacy agreement with (Mertes)," according to charging documents.
Prosecutors say that throughout the pregnancy, Mertes provided the family with "concerning updates as to the status of her pregnancy." In October, Mertes "threatened to use misoprostol to terminate the pregnancy if (the husband) did not send her $7,000 in addition to the amounts paid per the surrogacy agreement," the charges state.
The husband paid Mertes $2,500. Then in December, Mertes contacted him again claiming she had suffered a miscarriage, according to the charges.
"She demanded an additional $2,500 to consent to a records release and for the fetus' remains. The miscarriage was a lie, as the baby was later born," charging documents state.
Around Christmas Eve, the husband received word that Mertes was in a hospital in medical distress.
"He and his wife immediately got on a plane to Utah. (He) learned that Mertes was refusing to consent to the recommended care of the medical team and that the baby was in danger if she continued to refuse treatment. Mertes threatened to leave against medical advice and deny consent for a C-section or an induction if (the husband) did not pay her $15,000," the charges allege.
West Valley police say the baby was born and is currently living with the couple in Washington.
"Additional deceptions, including prior pregnancy complications, were later discovered by (the husband) upon reviewing her medical records," according to the charges.
Police say Mertes had contacted a doctor and claimed "she'd had a stillbirth and was at a hospital in Spanish Fork." But when the hospital was contacted by police, "the hospital denied having seen Mertes," the charges state.
