The woman who killed six of her babies and packed them in boxes was officially charged today with six counts of murder. She is being held on $6 million bail, $1 million for each baby.
Police believe Megan Huntsman, 39, gave birth to the babies then killed them over the past decade and they arrested her after the grisly discovery. They found the babies following a call from Huntsman’s ex-husband about a dead infant found inside a Pleasant Grove home that Huntsman lived in until 2011. Officers arrived and found the body of a newborn infant, who appeared to be full term.
Huntsman was informed of the charges during the brief hearing in a courtroom today.
Her estranged husband, Darren West, made the discovery with fellow family members while cleaning out the garage of the house, which is owned by his parents.
West called police, who then found more bodies in the garage.
Investigators believe Wes, is the babies’ father, though they are awaiting DNA results to confirm that. Officers said West is not a suspect.
Huntsman is being held on $6 million bail.
Authorities say they think they know her motive, but they have declined to reveal it publicly.
Huntsman’s three daughters – one teenager and two young adults – also lived in the house.
Former boyfriend Jimmy Brady, of Salt Lake City, says he was shocked to hear about what Megan Huntsman reportedly did and told a newspaper he had no idea about her past. He said he has been left depressed to hear about someone he cared about and how she killed her own children in such a gruesome manner.
Brady, who lived with the 39-year-old at a trailer home for 18 months, said he has not been able to sleep since Huntsman was arrested on suspicion of murder. He told the London Daily Mail: “I swear I had no idea, no idea what she had done in her past.”
Police searched the home after getting a search warrant and found six more babies packaged in separate cardboard boxes inside the garage.
Huntsman allegedly gave birth to the infants, then killed them over a 10 year period. Her ex-husband is believed to be the father, but investigators are still looking for information from DNA tests to provide them with additional information. Police indicate they are not currently pursuing charges against the former husband.
Neighbors said they never suspected Hunstman was pregnant and they had trusted her to look after their children over the years and indicated there were no problems.
Huntsman told police that “she either strangled or suffocated them immediately after they were born,” the Associated Press reported. “She wrapped their bodies in a towel or a shirt, put them in plastic bags and then packed them inside boxes in the garage of her home south of Salt Lake City.”
Pleasant Grove police Lt. Britt Smith said that during the interview with police, Huntsman was “unemotional and matter of fact.”
