Woman charged in surrogate scam pleads not guilty to theft - Associated Press
BISMARCK, N.D.
A woman accused of collecting about $15,000 from a Florida man who believed she was a surrogate mother and pregnant with his child has pleaded not guilty to theft of property.
Randi Backer, 24, also known as Randi Linderman, of Underwood, appeared in South Central District Court on Wednesday.
Prosecutors said she deceived Eduardo Martinez by claiming to be a surrogate mother for hire when she actually was pregnant by her husband.
Authorities said the case was investigated after Martinez, of Miami Beach, Fla., complained.
Investigators said Martinez and Backer met on the Internet and agreed that Backer would carry a child for Martinez for monthly payments of $2,350.
Authorities said Martinez sent semen samples to Backer in April and she told him later that month that she was pregnant. In August, authorities said, Backer notified Martinez that her doctor was forced to end her pregnancy and that she could no longer have children. She told him she was upset over losing a child and never returned the money, court documents said.
Authorities said they learned that Backer gave birth to a girl on Nov. 30, and the father listed on the birth certificate was her husband, Matthew Backer.
Backer's next court appearance is slated on April 18.
