Pennsylvania mother charged after police discover remains of four infants in closet and attic of former home

A Pennsylvania woman has been charged with criminal homicide after police found the remains of four infants in a home she had been evicted from near Ford City, about 40 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. Jessica Marie Mauthe, 39, was arrested after her former landlord called police to the property. The eviction for nonpayment occurred Aug. 14, the landlord said.

Investigators say the landlord, Brent Flanigan, discovered a trash bag in a closet with a foul odor and something wrapped in towels that was decomposing while cleaning the home. Authorities later found the bodies of three other infants in the attic, inside tote bags and wrapped in towels and plastic bags. Neighbors expressed shock at the discovery. "Shocked. No one believed it. It’s just evil," neighbor Carmen Felix told WTAE-TV.

Mauthe told troopers that about a year ago she gave birth to a child that made noises before she held the baby against her, where it remained until it stopped making noises and stopped breathing, according to the arrest affidavit. She also described another incident about six years ago in which a newborn whimpered after birth, she reportedly passed out on the floor, and woke to find the baby beneath her and not breathing.

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. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next week. The Pennsylvania State Police have investigated the case.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.