KENNEWICK, Wash. -- The former employer of the woman charged with stabbing a pregnant woman to death and cutting her baby from the womb said he doesn't believe she's capable of such a crime.

Phiengchai Sisouvanh Synhavong, 23, has been charged with aggravated first-degree murder in the death of 27-year-old Araceli Camacho Gomez.

Investigators believe Synhavong stabbed Gomez multiple times then stole her near-full term fetus. She then called 911 and said she herself had just given birth, but feared the baby was dead.

As of Wednesday evening, the baby boy remained in critical condition in a Spokane hospital, but his condition was said to be improving.

M.J. Bishop said when he heard the news, he could not believe his ears.

"My heart sank," he said. "I had to know for sure, you know, 'was that her?' Because I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who look like other people, but when I saw the name and I realized the birthday, it was almost like having a knife in my heart."

Bishop said he had hired the woman, whom he called Phieng, through Chesterfield Health Services in 2004 to help out with his disabled son, James. Synhavong quickly became a trusted friend of the family, he said.

"(She) took fast to James, took fast to our family, our friends. She was a very, very attentive caregiver," he said. "It came to a point where we'd invite her to family functions even if she wasn't scheduled."

Based on the warm manner in which Synhavong dealt with James, Bishop believed she was a good person who possessed patience and compassion.

"She never, ever seemed violent. Never, ever seemed offensive," he said.

Even though Synhavong is now accused of aggravated murder - a conviction of which will result in the death penalty or life in prison without parole, Bishop still can't shake his tender image of James' former caretaker.

"I didn't think anybody with such a big heart and such a warm spirit could ever do anything like that," he said. "I loved her because she was so good with James. I'll never think badly of her for what she's done for us."

Chesterfield confirmed Synhavong's employment with the company from July 2004 to February 2005. The company also said the woman's background checks turned up no red flags. Synhavong does not have a criminal record.

It is unclear whether Synhavong has recently been working as a caretaker for a different company. Her family said she worked with senior citizens, but did not elaborate. State records show she was a certified assistant nurse from 2005 to 2007.

On May 14 she married Keun Synhavong, 35, who is believed to work as a fisherman in Alaska. She reportedly told friends she was pregnant and was afraid her husband would leave her if she didn't have a baby.