Pennsylvania – A Pennsylvania woman was arrested over the weekend and charged with one count of criminaI homicide and one count of abuse of a cor pse. These charges stem from the discovery of the remains of four babies in a home she had been renting in Pennsylvania.
The investigation began when the mother, 39-year-old J. Mathe, was evicted from the residence in August due to non-payment of rent. While cleaning out the home, the landlord discovered a deceased lnfant wrapped in plastic inside a closet. This prompted a call to the Pennsylvania authorities. Subsequent searches by Pennsylvania State Police uncovered two more deceased infants hidden in totes in the attic. On September 18, authorities confirmed the discovery of a fourth set of remains, leading to additional charges against the parent..
During a police interview, the mother admitted to giving birth to the infants and described placing their bodies in the locations where they were found. She stated that she gave birth to one of the infants in the bathroom, heard the baby “whimpering,” and then passed out. Upon waking up, she found the baby dead, so she wrapped it up and hid its body. The woman also admitted to giving birth to another baby in the bathroom and doing the same with its body.
Investigators brought the mother in for questioning, and she allegedly admitted that she gave birth to the child found in the closet about a year earlier while seated on her toilet. According to police reports cited by WTAE, the mother said the child remained in the toilet for several minutes, during which time she could hear it making noises. She then removed the child, wrapped a towel around its entire body, and it remained wrapped until it stopped making noises. The mother reportedly said she placed the child inside several black garbage bags and left it in the closet of the upstairs bedroom, where it was later discovered by the homeowner.
She has been charged with one count of criminal homicide, one count of invoIuntary manslaughter, four counts of conceaIing the death of a chiId, and four counts of abuse of a corpse. She was arraigned on September 18 and denied bail. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities from the Pennsylvania State Police, the local police department, the District Attorney’s Office, and the Coroner’s Office involved in the case.
The remains of the infants are being examined by the Coroner’s Office, which is conducting autopsies to determine the exact causes of death. The discovery has shocked the local community, with neighbors expressing disbelief and horror over the situation.
Pennsylvania authorities are urging anyone with information related to the case to contact the Pennsylvania State Police at 724-543-2011. The investigation continues as law enforcement works to uncover more details about the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the infants and the woman’s actions leading up to their discovery.
