Woman accused of murdering newborn says she faked pregnancy

EUGENE, Ore. - A woman who confessed to murdering her newborn son only to later say she faked her pregnancy after having a miscarriage took the stand in her own defense on Tuesday.

Angelica Swartout, 24, is on trial for murder. She originally told police she had thrown her newborn son in the garbage, sparking a desperate search of the Short Mountain landfill.

The boy's body was never found.

The defense told jurors that is because Swartout faked the pregnancy.

On Tuesday morning, Swartout testified that she faked the pregnancy after suffering a miscarriage. She told jurors she pushed out her belly to simulate the advancing pregnancy.

Defense attorney Gordon Mallon said Swartout faked the pregnancy in order to keep receiving positive attention from her family.

Swartout also testified about her videotaped confession to police that she had delivered a baby in a workplace bathroom in October 2010.

"My mind wasn't processing what was going on at the time," she told the court. "I didn't realize at that time I was setting myself up for an aggravated murder charge."

Mallon said Swartout won't take the stand again Wednesday.

The attorneys expect to wrap up the trial by Thursday.