Pregnant teller wounded in robbery loses twins

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - April 25, 2008 Katherin Shuffield, who was five months pregnant, was critically wounded in the robbery Tuesday morning at a Huntington Bank branch. Police have been searching for the gunman.

Marion County chief trial prosecutor David Wyser announced the unborn twins' deaths Friday.

Authorities and the family had said the 30-year-old Shuffield had been wounded in the abdomen but that the bullets had not hit the twins.

But complications had set in, and one twin was born dead and the other died after birth, said Marion County's chief deputy coroner, Alfarena Ballew.

In a statement, Shuffield's husband, Jason Shuffield, thanked "everyone for their thoughts, prayers and concerns regarding Katherin's condition. While Katherin remains in critical but stable condition, we are sad to announce that our twin babies died late Thursday night. Katherin's recovery is our top priority and she continues to receive the best possible care."

Earlier Friday, authorities said they planned to release three men arrested in connection with the robbery because a story told them by a suspect turned out to be untrue.

Wyser said several details that 25-year-old Shed James Jr. told police were inaccurate. He said James would be charged with false reporting, and police will release the three other men he had implicated. All four had been arrested Wednesday and held on preliminary charges of conspiracy to commit robbery; authorities had said none was believed to be the gunman.