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A pregnant woman in her third trimester was bound and held captive for five days in a Suitland apartment before she freed herself and escaped on Sunday. Her alleged captor — also accused of attempting to cut out the unborn child — was arrested the same day in Arlington, Va., by Prince George's County police.

Veronica Delores Deramous, 40, of the 3500 block of Silver Park Drive in Suitland has been charged with attempted murder, assault and false imprisonment of both the victim and her then-unborn child.

Police are withholding the victim's name, age and where she is from, said Henry Tippett, a spokesman for the Prince George's County Police Department. He did confirm that the 29-year-old woman safely delivered the baby — a girl, named Miracle Sky — via a cesarean section procedure shortly after she was brought to a local hospital.

Police responded to a call at around 8:50 a.m. Sunday from "a concerned citizen" that a man was chasing a woman with a knife in an apartment building along the 3500 block of Silver Park Drive. The victim was found suffering deep cuts to the abdomen, where Deramous allegedly tried to cut out the fetus using a box cutter and razor blades, Tippett said.

Tippett said police believe Deramous befriended the victim around Dec. 1 at Queen of Peace, Missionaries of Charity — a shelter in southeast Washington, D.C., where the victim was staying at the time — and invited the victim back to her Suitland apartment under the pretense of giving her baby clothes.

No one from the shelter could be reached for comment by deadline.

Once Deramous and the victim reached the apartment in Suitland, Tippett said, Deramous allegedly bound the victim with duct tape to prevent her from leaving. Sometime on Dec. 5 or early Dec. 6, Tippett said police believe Deramous tried to cut out the victim's baby, but she was unsuccessful.

The victim managed to free herself on Dec. 6 while Deramous was asleep and ran into the hallway to bang on neighbor's doors and ask them to call police, Tippett said.

Tippett said Deramous lives with her 17-year-old son and that he likely knew the victim was in the apartment. However, he said police don't know whether he played a role in the kidnapping or attack. No charges had been filed against him as of Tuesday.

Deramous awoke shortly after the victim freed herself and chased her down the hallway, Tippett said. Police received a call at around 8:50 a.m. that the victim was being chased by a male suspect, but Tippett said the witness probably mistook Deramous for a man at the time.

Deramous allegedly fled the apartment building once she realized authorities had been alerted and was eventually tracked to Arlington, Va., by Prince George's County police. She was arrested at around 7 p.m. Sunday. Tippett said police don't know why she went to Arlington.

According to Arlington County District Court records, Deramous was held in Arlington and waived her right to challenge extradition to Prince George's County on Monday. Prince George's County District Court records indicate she arrived back on Tuesday.

The court records also show that she does not have an attorney yet and that a hearing is scheduled for Wednesday to set bail.

The county's Department of Social Services is accepting donations for the victim and her baby, according to department spokeswoman Lavette Sims. Sims said she had already received 30 calls on Tuesday from country residents asking to donate money, blankets, baby clothes and other items.

"We're thankful that the community has come out to support the family," she said, adding that anyone wishing to make a donation should call Na'Pre Anderson, assistant to the director of the department, at 301-909-7077.

E-mail Zoe Tillman at ztillman@gazette.net.