Man Arrested in Coma Victim Assault

A house painter with a long criminal record was held on $1-million bail in the beating of a flower shop owner who five months later gave birth while in a coma-like state. Kalvin Michael Smith, 26, of Winston-Salem, was arrested and charged with armed robbery, assault and lesser charges, police said. Jill Marker was more than three months pregnant when she was attacked on Dec. 9, 1995, at her Silk Plant Forest shop. Her attacker shattered her skull and took about $300 from the cash register, police said. Marker nonetheless gave birth to a healthy son, Barron Lloyd. Marker now must use a wheelchair and cannot speak or swallow, but she can write her name with her right hand, nod yes and no, and point to things she wants.