Prosecutor seeking death penalty for woman accused of killing mother, stealing baby


SPRING, Texas— The Montgomery County District Attorney will ask for the death penalty for Verna McClain.

McClain, 30, is accused of killing Kala Golden Schuchardt and abducting her 3-day-old baby outside a Spring pediatric clinic last April.

Montgomery County investigators said that McClain had been pregnant with her fiance’s child and the couple was planning to marry in May. But after she suffered a miscarriage, investigators said McClain decided to find another child and convince her fiancé it was his.

Investigators said McClain went to the Northwoods Pediatric Center Tuesday specifically to find a woman with a baby.

"We think she knew the patterns of the pediatric center because she’d taken her children there in the past," said Lt. Dan Norris with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

Kala Golden had taken her baby to Northwood Tuesday for a checkup. When she returned to her truck, McClain was waiting with a handgun, according to authorities.

"An altercation erupted with the suspect. The suspect shot Kala several times, then took the child from the pickup," said Montgomery County Sheriff Tommy Gage.　

Despite her wounds, deputies said Golden tried to get the baby away from McClain. The suspect　hit the dying mother with her car as Golden reached into the Lexus screaming, "My baby!" according to Norris.

An Amber Alert was quickly issued for Keegan, and Golden was rushed to Memorial Hermann in The Woodlands, where she died.
Keegan was found unharmed hours later with McClain’s sister.

McClain was arrested and remains jailed without bond.

In an interview with KHOU 11 News a few weeks after the shooting, McClain spoke about the crime.

"One day, I’m a law abiding citizen, a mother who’s never done anything wrong. The next, I’m a monster," she said.

McClain was despondent throughout much of the jailhouse interview, breaking down and sobbing uncontrollably in the room.

"I’m nothing like what these people are making me out to be. I’m the same person everybody knows and loves," said McClain. "Don’t sit and look at me as if I’m some sort of monster. I’m not. Until you know the facts, don’t sit and judge."

"Right now, I’m so paranoid I don’t know who to trust," said McClain. "Mentally, I’m borderline."

McClain's mother said recently she doesn't believe her daughter will get a fair trial.

"I don’t believe Verna’s guilty. There’s laws that constitute people like Verna not being guilty,” Jeannette Jackson said.

The victim’s husband, Keith Schuchardt, reacted strongly to Jackson’s remarks.

“With what McClain did, my wife didn’t have a fair trial either,” he said. “She didn’t even have a chance.”

McClain's trial date has not been set.

Fry the scum.

She took a life.

Fry her quick and on high heat.

sad all the way around,,,at least the baby is safe,,,

Hold on! It appears to me that there is a mitigating circumstance in this case. The miscarriage of her own child could have made McClain mentally unstable. The fact that the state of Texas has the death penalty doesn't mean that it should be used in every case of homicide.

Hopefully she's tried and fried!