Craigslist missed connection Amanda Hein trial

This ad was posted on Craigslist.

(Craigslist image)

A witness in the

trial forced a closed-door hearing Thursday morning for purportedly trying to pursue a romance with one of the jurors through an online personal ad.

Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli confirmed today he received an urgent message from Allentown police Thursday morning. Authorities learned through an anonymous tip that someone claiming to be a witness from Wednesday morning was reaching out to a female juror.

The jury on Thursday

for intentionally killing her son. She admitted she gave birth in the restroom of Starters Pub in Lower Saucon Township, put the baby in a garbage bag and hid the bag in a toilet tank. She was immediately sentenced to life in prison.

As of this evening, the ad was still on

section. It was first publicized this morning by the

. The text of the ad read:

"You...blonde juror 2nd row in the Amanda Catherine Hein case.

"Me...testified first thing Wednesday morning about an online/phone relationship with Amanda

"You...smiling at me

"Me...making eye contact and trying not to make it obvious I was smiling back

"Hope you get done soon

"hope to hear from you."

Morganelli said he brought the ad to the attention of Hein's defense team and Judge Paula Roscioli. Roscioli determined the court did not need to take action because no evidence exists that the witness actually spoke with the juror or that the juror was even aware of the ad, Morganelli said.

"He didn't commit a crime or anything," Morganelli said of the poster. "It's bizarre."

Defense attorney Michael Corriere confirmed he was made aware of the ad but felt it did not affect the trial. Neither he nor Morganelli said he had ever seen anything like it in his career.

"I'm thinking it's something relatively new because of the technology," said Corriere, who was unfamiliar with the Missed Connections section of Craigslist.

The ad matches the description of Michael Aleci, an unemployed Allentown man who testified Wednesday morning about his online relationship with Hein. Aleci, who grinned through much of his testimony at the infanticide trial, said he and Hein had met through the online dating website Plenty Of Fish. The two exchanged flirty texts and phone calls for a few weeks, discussing topics like their favorite movies and the Philadelphia Phillies, he said.

Aleci could not be reached for comment. Morganelli said he had not verified whether Aleci posted the ad.

The day of the murder, he and Hein texted back and forth throughout the day, Aleci testified. He could not detect any changes in her demeanor, he said, and she never mentioned anything about being pregnant or giving birth.

"I didn't notice anything, but by the same token, this was a newer conversation, a newer relationship," he said.