Police are questioning a woman in the US state of Wisconsin over the death of a heavily pregnant 23-year-old, whose unborn child was removed from her womb.

The 33-year-old suspect called emergency services in Milwaukee on Thursday to say she had given birth at home and the baby was not breathing.

Police searched the suspect's home a day later and found the body of the 23-year-old woman in the basement.

The full-term baby did not survive the incident.

Police said the child had been removed from the mother's uterus "by force", but did not provide further details.

Foetal abduction cases 1987: Darci Pierce, 19, abducted and killed Cindy Ray in New Mexico and cut out her baby.

Darci Pierce, 19, abducted and killed Cindy Ray in New Mexico and cut out her baby. 1995: Debbie Evans was murdered in Illinois, along with two of her children. A baby son survived, as did the foetus.

Debbie Evans was murdered in Illinois, along with two of her children. A baby son survived, as did the foetus. 1996: 17-year-old Carethia Curry was murdered by a friend, Felicia Scott, 37, who stole her baby.

17-year-old Carethia Curry was murdered by a friend, Felicia Scott, 37, who stole her baby. 2000: Michelle Bica invited a pregnant friend to her home in Ohio, shot her dead and cut out her baby. Bica later committed suicide.

Michelle Bica invited a pregnant friend to her home in Ohio, shot her dead and cut out her baby. Bica later committed suicide. 2003: Effie Goodson shot Carolyn Simpson in Oklahoma but unwittingly killed the baby too.

Effie Goodson shot Carolyn Simpson in Oklahoma but unwittingly killed the baby too. 2004: Lisa Montgomery killed Bobbi Jo Stinnett and cut out her baby girl, who survived.

Lisa Montgomery killed Bobbi Jo Stinnett and cut out her baby girl, who survived. 2008: Araceli Camacho Gomez, 27, stabbed to death by a 23-year-old Laotian. Foetus survived being cut from mother's womb.

Araceli Camacho Gomez, 27, stabbed to death by a 23-year-old Laotian. Foetus survived being cut from mother's womb. 2009: Teka Adams abducted in Washington DC by Veronica Deramous, who tried to extract her unborn child. Adams escaped, she and child survived.

The suspect has not yet been charged.

The family of the victim, Maritza Ramirez-Cruz, have said she had been due to give birth to her fourth child on 16 October.

She had been expecting a boy, whom she and her husband planned to name Omar.

Police say it is not clear how Ms Ramirez-Cruz came to the unnamed suspect's home as she is not thought to have known her.

Neighbours of the suspect reportedly said she had told them she was expecting a baby.

"She was rubbing her belly all the time, she was telling everyone she was getting bigger," one neighbour told a local radio station.

The dead woman's husband, Christian Mercado, told the station his wife had mild contractions on Thursday morning and left the house to run an errand.

Mr Mercado went to work and called his wife later that morning but got no answer.