Seven dead babies found at woman's home

A woman accused of killing seven babies she gave birth to over a decade has been arrested after police discovered the tiny bodies stuffed in cardboard boxes in the garage of her former home.

Megan Huntsman, 39, who lived in the home in Pleasant Grove, Utah, until three years ago, had the babies between 1996 and 2006, investigators said.

Officers responded to a call on Saturday from Huntsman’s estranged husband about a dead infant at the home. Officers then discovered the six other bodies.

Police captain Michael Roberts declined to comment on a motive and what Huntsman said during an interview with investigators.

Neighbours in the middle-class neighborhood said they were shocked by the accusations and perplexed that the woman’s older children still living in the home did not know their mother was pregnant or notice anything suspicious.

Police believe the estranged husband and Huntsman were together when the babies were born, but say he is not a person of interest at this time.

“We don’t believe he had any knowledge of the situation,” Capt Roberts said.

Asked how the man could not have known, he replied: “That’s the million-dollar question. Amazing.”

The babies’ bodies were sent to the Utah medical examiner’s office for tests, including one to determine the cause of death. DNA samples taken from the suspect and her husband will determine whether the two are the parents, as investigators believe.

Huntsman was booked into Utah County Jail on six counts of murder.

The house is owned by the husband’s parents, and the man was cleaning out the garage when he made the grisly discovery.

Family and neighbours identified the estranged husband as Darren West, a convicted criminal who has been in prison.

His family released a statement saying it was in a “state of shock and confusion” and was mourning “this tragic loss of life”.

Court records show West pleaded guilty in federal court in 2005 to two counts of possessing chemicals intended to be used in manufacturing methamphetamine. In 2006, he was sentenced to nine years in prison. It is unclear when he was released.

Huntsman’s three daughters still live in the home, long-time neighbour Sharon Chipman told The Salt Lake Tribune. The oldest were about 18 to 20 years old, while the youngest was about 13, she said.

Huntsman was a great neighbour and Ms Chipman trusted her to watch her grandson when he was a toddler, she added.

“She took good care of him. She was good. This really shocks me,” Ms Chipman told The Tribune.

Capt Roberts said the case had been “emotionally draining” and upsetting to investigators. He was at the home when the bodies were discovered.

“My personal reaction? Just shocked. Couldn’t believe it. The other officers felt the same,” he said.

“They got more and more shocked each box they opened.”