Authorities say three dead infants were discovered in a Pennsylvania woman’s former home just weeks after she was evicted.
On Sept. 15, Pennsylvania State Police announced the arrest of 39-year-old Jessica Mauthe, who faces charges of criminal homicide and abuse of a corpse.
Mauthe was evicted from her Cadogan Township residence on Aug. 14. Nearly a month later, on Sept. 12, her former landlord entered the property to clean for a new tenant and made a grim discovery.
“While cleaning out a closet, (the landlord) observed a trash bag in the closet with a foul odor,” the Leader Times reported, citing court records. “Inside the trash bag was a towel wrapped around something decomposing.”
A coroner later confirmed the remains were that of a baby. During a deeper search, investigators found two more deceased infants inside plastic totes stored in the attic, according to a criminal complaint cited by KDKA.
Troopers said Mauthe admitted to giving birth to the babies and later placing them where they were found. PennLive.com reported that the most recent baby was born about a year ago while Mauthe was on the toilet.
According to KDKA, she told investigators she took the newborn from the toilet, wrapped it in towels “until it stopped making noises,” and then placed it in the closet.
Police said she delivered the other two infants in the same home. Court papers reveal they were also wrapped in towels, put in plastic bags, and stored in totes in the attic.
Court records show Mauthe was denied bail during her Sept. 15 arraignment. She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 23.
Cadogan Township is located about 35 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
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