Mother faces headless baby charge

A 25-YEAR-OLD woman has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder after a prematurely born baby boy was found decapitated in her US trailer home.

Laura Lynn Hickey was arrested after a week-long investigation, police in Washington state said.

A pathologist concluded the 21-week baby was alive at birth but “suffered fatal injuries by decapitation,” said Officer John Panco.

Police said the body was found under the kitchen sink in Hickey’s home.

Hickey was scheduled to appear in Lewis County Superior Court. Panco said he expected she would be formally charged with first-degree murder.

Paramedics responded to the woman’s home just before 1am on March 2 after neighbours heard her call for help, a joint police and prosecution statement said.

Taken to Centralia Providence Hospital, the woman reportedly told doctors she was having a miscarriage but police said an exam showed she had given birth.

Police said the woman then told emergency room staff that the baby was under her kitchen sink.

Officers found the decapitated body.

Panco said the baby boy was alive at the time of birth.

The woman has three other children but they do not live with her, Panco said, adding Child Protective Services removed them from her care a year ago.