A Pennsylvania woman, aged 39, has been apprehended by authorities following allegations of leaving the remains of three infants in a house from which she was evicted. The bodies were discovered in various locations within the house; one was found in a trash bag in a closet, while the other two were concealed in tote bags stored in the attic. Jessica M. Mauthe was arrested over the weekend and is currently facing charges of criminal homicide and abuse of a corpse, according to law enforcement officials. These charges are based on the discovery of the first infant, believed to have been born approximately a year ago.
The Pennsylvania State Police issued a statement revealing that Mauthe was charged on Saturday, following an investigation into the findings at a residence located on Oak Avenue in Cadogan Township. Further details were not disclosed due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.
A criminal complaint, obtained by a Philadelphia CBS affiliate, detailed that authorities were alerted to the situation on Saturday via a 911 call from the property owner. The owner, who had evicted Mauthe from the property about a month prior, was preparing the house for the next tenant when she encountered a foul odor emanating from a closet. Upon investigation, she discovered a trash bag containing a decomposing object wrapped in a towel.
The coroner was summoned to the scene and confirmed that the bag contained the remains of a deceased infant, prompting the involvement of the state police. During a subsequent search of the house, investigators discovered two tote bags in the attic. One bag contained the remains of a baby wrapped in a towel and placed inside a black trash bag. The other bag contained a bucket, which also held the remains of a deceased infant wrapped in a towel, as reported by PennLive.
Mauthe was brought in for questioning, during which she allegedly confessed to giving birth to the child found in the closet about a year ago. According to a report from a Pittsburgh ABC affiliate, Mauthe stated that the child was born while she was seated on her toilet and remained there for several minutes. She then wrapped the child in a towel and placed it in several black garbage bags, which she left in the closet of the upstairs bedroom.
Mauthe also reportedly admitted to giving birth to the other two infants found in the attic. District Attorney Katie Charlton told PennLive that additional charges against Mauthe could be forthcoming, pending the results of autopsies on the two infants discovered in the attic.
The news of the allegations against Mauthe left neighbors in shock. One neighbor expressed disbelief, describing the situation as “evil.” Mauthe is currently being held in the Armstrong County Jail without bond.