Woman accused of killing niece fights extradition to Nevada

SACRAMENTO - A Sacramento woman accused of murdering her niece and the teen-ager's unborn baby appeared in Sacramento County Superior Court Thursday to fight extradition to Nevada.

Erin Rae Kuhn-Brown, 31, appeared briefly before Judge Patrick Marlette to ask for more time to protest the move to Nevada to stand trial on two counts of murder. Marlette granted the stay although the extradition has been signed by both states' governors.

Investigators allege that Kuhn-Brown murdered her niece, Kathaleena Draper, 17, after the teen-ager changed her mind about letting Kuhn-Brown adopt her unborn baby. Kuhn-Brown, an emergency room technician, then surgically removed the baby, which later died, investigators said.

Nevada officials say the murders took place while the two were traveling to Las Vegas.

Draper's body was found wrapped in plastic near a Sacramento dump site on June 17. The baby's body was found near Silver Springs, Nev.

Kuhn-Brown's attorney, Karol Repkow, said Lyon County, Nev., District Attorney Robert E. Estes was trying to bring the case to his jurisdiction to generate publicity for his campaign for judge.

Estes has denied that the case is a publicity stunt.

Kuhn-Brown's next court appearance is Sept. 12.