UPDATE: Baby who was cut from his murdered mum's womb dies in hospital

UPDATE: 

The baby of Marlen Ochoa-Lopez, the pregnant woman who was murdered in Chicago and had her son cut from her womb, died on Friday June 14.

A spokesman for the family confirmed the passing, releasing a statement that read as follows: “It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of baby Yovanny Jadiel Lopez. He passed away this morning Friday June 14, 2019 from his severe brain injury.

“Please keep his family in your thoughts & prayers as they go through this difficult time.”

EARLIER:

A baby boy who was cut from his murdered mother's womb has begun to show intermittent signs of breathing on his own.

According to a family spokesperson, Emma Lozano, the baby remains in critical condition and on life support, but is showing some progress.

“The baby is starting to be weaned off the respirator, but there’s a long way to go and we’re all praying for a miracle,” Ms Lozano told People.

A GoFundMe page has been created by the child’s biological family. So far, they have raised more than $56,000.

“With all my heart I keep asking for your help,” the baby's father wrote. “Pray as my son recovers.”

The baby's mother, 19-year-old Marlen Ochoa-Lopez was nine months pregnant when she went missing on April 23. She was due to give birth on May 5. 

She was allegedly tricked and lured to a house by a gang who strangled her and cut her unborn baby from her body.

The grieving dad of a baby boy who was horrifically cut from his murdered wife's womb has been pictured cuddling his new son in hospital as he waits to hear if he will survive.

Yovani Lopez is the widower of Marlen Ochoa-Lopez, a 19-year-old who was strangled on April 23 after going to a house in Chicago to pick up free baby clothes. 

She was allegedly lured there by a gang who killed her and then shockingly cut the baby boy from her womb and pretended he was their natural child.

DNA tests proved he was no relation to them.

These new images, posted on social media by family friend Cecilia Garcia, show Yovany holding his baby, who he named Yadiel.

Poor little Yadiel is in a critical condition with sadly little brain function, but he has opened his eyes – something doctors thought he would never do.

"We're praying for a miracle," Cecilia captioned the heart wrenching photos.

Marlen was reported missing after she travelled to the southwest Chicago suburb of Scottsdale to meet up with 46-year-old Clarisa Figueroa, who promised her free baby clothing and a stroller.

Police allege Figueroa and her daughter, 24-year-old Desiree Figueroa, then strangled Marlen using a cord before cutting the tiny baby from her womb.

They then called for an ambulance for the baby boy but their story quickly unravelled as it was clear that neither woman had given birth recently.

DNA testing later revealed that Marlen and her husband, Yovany, were actually his parents. 

Yovanny is still struggling to grasp why anyone would hurt his pregnant wife, with whom he already shared a young son.

"She didn't do anything to them, she was a good person," he said. "Knowing she had a family, a 3-year-old son. I can't believe it."

"It's very painful," he added. "Very painful to see your wife, with whom you lived with for four years ... with her eyes closed."

Desiree Figueroa, Clarisa Figueroa and a man have been arrested and will appear in court next month.