Murder Trial : In-Vitro Costs Led Parents to Hire Sitter

A Canyon Country couple were forced to employ a baby-sitter, later accused of killing their infant son, because they had to work to pay medical bills incurred during a 4-year struggle to have children, the mother testified Friday during the former sitter’s trial.

Karen Duncan told the San Fernando Superior Court jury that she informed the sitter, Vicki Maas, that the Duncan twins were born through in-vitro fertilization, a method in which conception occurs in a laboratory and the fertilized egg is implanted into the mother’s womb.

“I would want anybody taking care of them to know how precious they were to us,” Duncan testified. The pregnancy “was the happiest time of our lives,” coming after she tried fertility drugs and three previously unsuccessful in-vitro attempts, she said.

Maas, 28, of Canyon Country is charged with murder in the Jan. 8 death of one of the twins, David Allen Duncan. She is also accused of endangering the lives of two other children, who prosecutors said were injured while in her care. David’s sister, Amanda, was not harmed.

David died from what doctors described as swelling in his brain brought on by shaking. Maas told authorities shortly after the death that she had shaken the baby.

Maas has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. If she is convicted, a second phase of the trial would be held to determine whether she was sane at the time of the incidents. The first phase is expected to last about 2 months.

Karen Duncan and her husband, Larry, testified that they hired Maas after seeing her advertisement in a newspaper.

Karen Duncan did not specify the amount of the medical bills related to her efforts to become pregnant. But she said the costs, which were not covered by the couple’s health insurance, were substantial.

Hiring a sitter to care for the twins, who were born a month premature, was a difficult decision, the father testified.

“It took a little time to work up the courage to accept it,” Larry Duncan said.

Maas is free on $10,000 bail.