Additional charges filed after 4 dead infants found in Armstrong County home
After a fourth dead infant was found in an Armstrong County home, new charges were filed Thursday, Sept. 18, against a woman who had rented an apartment in Cadogan Township.
The charges against Jessica Marie Mauthe, 39, stem from an investigation that began at a rental property in the 100 block of Oak Avenue following her eviction. Four dead infants were found in a bedroom and the attic, according to police.
The affidavit details how Mauthe told police about three occasions where she gave birth and hid a baby’s body in the apartment, but autopsies performed on the infants at the Indiana County Coroner’s Office found there were four infants in total.
Mauthe is facing one count each of felony criminal homicide and involuntary manslaughter and four counts each of misdemeanor concealing the death of a child and abuse of a corpse.
The felony charges were first filed Sept. 15, but withdrawn and refiled Thursday in addition to the misdemeanor charges. Mauthe remains in the Armstrong County Prison with bail denied.
Police said South Buffalo Township police contacted state police on Sept. 13 to aid in the investigation of a possibly deceased infant found in the vacant residence.
The property owner told police Mauthe was evicted Aug. 14, and the locks were changed Aug. 30.
The property owner was cleaning the residence Sept. 13 when he found a black trash bag with a foul odor inside a closet. Police said inside the trash bag was a deceased infant.
Police then searched the attic and found two totes, which jointly contained three deceased infants, according to the affidavit.
Mauthe was interviewed by police later that day and explained how three babies were born in the bathroom of the residence.
Mauthe told police after the first baby was born about six years ago, she heard it making noise before passing out. Police said Mauthe recalled waking up on top of the infant, which was not breathing. Mauthe then concealed it in a tote placed in the attic, police said.
Police said the second infant was birthed into the toilet of the bathroom and was left there for about 15 minutes. Police said Mauthe confirmed the infant was deceased before again concealing it in a tote placed in the attic.
Police said Mauthe gave birth to another infant in the bathroom of the residence about one year ago. Police said Mauthe again recalled leaving the infant in the toilet for several minutes, but upon hearing it continually make noise, she suffocated and concealed it in the upstairs bedroom closet, which is where the property owner found it.
Police did not include details in the criminal complaint about the fourth infant found in the residence.
Mauthe told police she never sought medical attention for the deceased infants and never notified anyone of their deaths. Four autopsies were performed on the infants at the Indiana County Coroner’s Office.
The Pennsylvania State Police Kittanning Criminal Investigative Unit is working with Armstrong County District Attorney Katie Charlton, Armstrong County Coroner Brian Myers and the South Buffalo Township Police Department on the investigation.
Anyone with additional information is requested to contact state police in Kittanning at 724-543-2011. Trooper Justin Simons is the investigating officer.
