Pennsylvania woman charged after police uncover decomposed remains of four infants in closet and attic
Jessica Mauthe, 39, is charged with criminal homicide, involuntary manslaughter and multiple counts of abuse of a corpse; she is held without bail in Armstrong County.
A Pennsylvania woman has been charged after police discovered the decomposed remains of four infants in a home she had been evicted from last month, authorities said. Jessica Marie Mauthe, 39, was arrested after her former landlord alerted police to the residence outside Ford City, about 40 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, in Armstrong County.
Landlord Brent Flanigan told police he evicted Mauthe for nonpayment on Aug. 14. While cleaning the home, Flanigan said he found a trash bag in a closet that had a foul odor and something wrapped in towels that appeared decomposed, according to an arrest affidavit. Investigators then searched the residence and found the bodies of three other infants in the attic, contained in tote bags, wrapped in towels and inside plastic bags, police said. A neighbor described the discovery as shocking. “Shocked. No one believed it. It’s just evil,” Carmen Felix told WTAE-TV.
Investigators said Mauthe told troopers that one newborn had whimpered after she gave birth to it about six years ago, after which she held the child “against her, where it remained until it stopped making noises and stopped breathing,” according to the affidavit. She also described a second birth about a year ago in which the child cried out before she held it against her and it stopped breathing, investigators noted. The affidavit did not specify the ages of the children, but police described the remains found in the home as four infants.
Authorities charged Mauthe with criminal homicide, involuntary manslaughter and multiple counts of abuse of a corpse. She is being held in the Armstrong County Jail without bail, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for next week. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The case remains under investigation by state police and local authorities, with prosecutors expected to outline additional details at the preliminary hearing. Neighbors said they were stunned by the discovery and described the sequence of events as a troubling break from the quiet community around the Ford City area.
The eviction, discovery and charges come as investigators continue to piece together the timeline of events in the home and whether other individuals were involved or aware of the conditions inside the residence. The defendants and the cases involving infant remains in private homes have drawn renewed attention to how such situations are monitored and addressed by social services and law enforcement when there are warnings signs. The court records indicate Mauthe has remained in custody without bail, and authorities have not disclosed any prior charges related to similar conduct.
As the investigation proceeds, authorities urge any residents with information to come forward to assist in confirming the sequence of births and the circumstances surrounding each infant’s death. Prosecutors will likely seek to establish the timeline and establish motive as they prepare for the preliminary hearing in the coming days.
The images captured at the scene and in-related public records illustrate the severity of the case and the seriousness with which investigators approach suspected homicide cases involving infants. Additional details surrounding the investigation and potential charges could be released at upcoming court proceedings as the case advances.