INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- Two women accused of kidnapping a pregnant woman were arraigned in an Independence courtroom Wednesday.

Lauren M. Gash, 20, of Odessa, Mo., and Alisa D. Betts, 17, of Atchison, Kan., kidnapped Amanda Howard, 18, of Clinton, Mo., and tried to cut her unborn baby from her body, prosecutors alleged.

At the time, Howard was nine months pregnant.

Their alleged plot was foiled when Betts got cold feet and called police, according to investigators.

The pair will be back in court in October.