Authorities in Cadogan Township, Pennsylvania, uncovered the remains of four infants in the home of 39-year-old Jessica Mauthe following her eviction for non-payment of rent.
The gruesome discovery occurred in August when landlord Brent Flanigan entered the rental property to clean and noticed a strong odor coming from a trash bag in a closet. Inside, he found the first infant, prompting him to contact police. Subsequent searches of the attic and other areas of the home revealed three additional sets of infant remains, some in tote bags.
During questioning, Mauthe — a mother of two boys, ages 6 and 8 — admitted to hiding the bodies of three infants after giving birth to them at home. According to a criminal complaint:
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About six years ago, she gave birth in her bathroom and, after passing out, discovered the baby had died. She then hid the body.
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She also admitted to two other births in which the infants died shortly after birth. One was wrapped in a towel until it stopped making noise.
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Mauthe never sought medical attention for any of the infants nor notified anyone of their deaths.
The Cadogan Township home, where the remains were discovered, had been Mauthe’s childhood home, which she leased after her father passed away. Her husband is currently incarcerated.
Mauthe has been charged with:
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1 count of criminal homicide
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1 count of involuntary manslaughter
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4 counts of concealing the death of a child
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4 counts of abuse of a corpse
She is being held in the Armstrong County Jail and was denied bail. The investigation is ongoing.
This shocking case highlights a string of undiscovered tragedies, raising serious concerns about Mauthe’s actions over the years and the circumstances surrounding these hidden births.
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