Motions in the Christina Marie Fiske case will be heard on February 19, but no date has been set for the trial in the NC Superior Court.
On February 28, 2000, an infant was discovered by workers at the Macon County Landfill. A tip “from a concerned citizen” led investigators to 21-year-old Fiske, who was charged with first degree murder, concealing the birth of a child and felony child abuse inflicting serious injury.
Fiske lived in apartment 28 at Carolina Village on Old 107, and was a sophomore at Western Carolina during Spring semester of 2000.
According to law enforcement officers, Fiske gave birth to a full-term baby girl on February 26 at her boyfriend’s apartment, also at Carolina Village.
In a documented interview, “Christina stated she placed her hands on the child’s person until the child became silent.”
The document further states that “Christina subsequently placed the body in a plastic bag and transported it to a trash container in Franklin and disposed of it. Christina stated she transported this child in the trunk of her car.”
After Fiske’s 2000 Ford Focus was impounded and searched at the Sylva Police Department, stained paper towels, tapings from the trunk area and carpet from the trunk were gathered as evidence.
An autopsy showed that the infant was alive at birth, but was then purposely suffocated.
As reported in the March 15, 2000 issue of the Western Carolinian, Judge J. Marlene Hyatt allowed Fiske to post a $100,000 bond.
Fiske was ordered to live with her mother in Brevard and must report to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office weekly.
According to Gene McAbee, director of university police, it’s not unusual that an extended amount of time pass before a case of this nature reaches trial.
“Sylva Superior Court doesn’t meet as often as a large city would,” said McAbee. “Court dockets are crowded with cases, and it’s unlikely to try more than two to three cases in a week.”
Stacy Alexander, a junior at WCU, grew up with Fiske and finds the case appalling and difficult to believe.
“Christina was a good student and real active,” said Alexander. “She taught Girl Scouts in summer camp. I was shocked when I found out what had happened.”
Attorney Kim Lay of Sylva is representing Fiske.
If Fiske is found guilty, the state will seek the death penalty.
