Motherhood isn’t a blessing for all mothers on God’s green Earth. On Thursday, one of the exceptions took place as a Utah mother admitted to infanticide, claiming that her addiction to methamphetamine pushed her towards killing her six newborn babies.
The woman hid all six bodies in her home’s garage for over 10 years, until the father of the six babies, Darren West, discovered the gruesome secret in April 2014. He only discovered one of the six tiny bodies hidden inside a cardboard box. The remaining six bodies (one of the babies was declared stillborn) were discovered by the police. As the coroner’s report (and later on, the mother’s own testimony) stated, the babies were either suffocated or strangled. Each body had been wrapped neatly in cloth and plastic bags before having been placed inside the boxes.
Megan Huntsman, the mother in question, is currently awaiting her sentence, which will be issued on April 20th. According to prosecutors, the 39-year-old will most likely receive a lifelong sentence for the “heinous series” of murders committed by the woman between 1996 and 2006.
Authorities have come to the conclusion that the woman gave birth to all of her children at home. Curiously enough, all pregnancies and murders were concealed from family members and friends. West, the father of all six of Huntsman’s victims, had just returned from an eight-year-long prison sentence as a result of his own meth charges. At this time, authorities announced that they would not be prosecuting the West.
The couple’s other three children (daughters, aged 14, 18 and 20)are currently being sought after by family members, who attended the court hearing but declined to make comments of any kind.
According to authorities, Huntsman was able to enter this plea because she was not eligible for the death penalty. All six crimes were committed between 1996 and 2006 (predating the legislature changes that made such an offence a capital crime).
According to Jeff Buhman, Utah County attorney, Huntsman’s family supports the deal that the prosecutors offered. The woman’s minimum sentence could be reduced to five years, although neither one would be shocked if she would never get out. This deal offers little options for Huntsman to appeal, so that the case would essentially be solved right after sentencing.
Huntsman offered few comments during her court appearances, however, Buhman claims that she has repeatedly expressed regret and that it may be possible that she offer additional comments at the time of her sentencing.
Image Source: Ny Daily News
