NEVADA — Eight witnesses testified Monday against an Ames woman accused of strangling her newborn baby in 2001. Ann McGowan, 35, faces life imprisonment if convicted of the first degree murder charge against her.

The defense argued McGowan was unaware that she was pregnant and was in a confused mental state after losing an excess of blood. The State of Iowa argued for first-degree murder charges to be brought against McGowan, claiming that she was mentally conscious enough to hide the baby in a trash can at her Ames home, 1118 N. 3rd St.

Patrick Condon, McGowan’s fianc‚, testified he never suspected McGowan to be pregnant. DNA tests proved Condon was the baby’s father.

“She didn’t look pregnant,” Condon said. “I had no reason to think she was pregnant.”

Condon testified that he discovered McGowan lying on the floor when he returned from a Mexican restaurant on the afternoon of July 21, 2001. McGowan was then brought to Mary Greely Medical Center to be treated for excessive vaginal bleeding.

Officer Geoff Huff, Ames Police officer, testified that he found the newborn body in an “unusually heavy” black trash bag in a trash can in the backyard of the house. Huff described the body as “fairly clean” and wrapped in a green towel inside the tied garbage bag. Huff determined the baby was dead after he noticed rigor mortis and detected no pulse.

Officer David Konopa, Ames Police Department Detective Division, testified he arrived on the scene and began the investigative search procedure at 11:23 p.m. after obtaining a search warrant. He identified and affirmed evidence photos taken that night of both the backyard and inside of the house.

The defense questioned Konopa regarding two other bags in the trash can. Konopa admitted the two bags were not thoroughly searched.

“I didn’t dig through the entire bag,” Konopa said.

The defense questioned Konopa, citing the possibility that there may have been evidence in the bags, namely dried tampons and pads representing a recent past menstrual period.

Mark Wheeler, detective for the Ames Police Department at the time of the incident, testified that he assisted Konopa that night and described that he discovered, while removing items from the garbage, that the baby had apparently been strangled.

“There was a pair of what I thought was underwear on the left side of the body,” Wheeler said. “I could see the baby’s head move when I pulled on it.”

Wheeler discovered the underwear was actually a pair of pantyhose wrapped around the baby’s neck.

The defense’s cross-examination of Wheeler questioned why no inventory was taken of used tampons in the house, which could have shown that McGowan had recently menstruated.

Two emergency room doctors who treated McGowan and an officer and an investigative agent called to the hospital that night also testified Monday.

McGowan waived her right to a jury trial and is now being tried before Judge Michael J. Moon.

The trial is scheduled to conclude Friday.