An Armstrong County woman, Jessica Mauthe, is set to stand trial after the discovery of the partially decomposed remains of four infants in her former residence. According to TribLive, Mauthe faces multiple charges, including criminal homicide and involuntary manslaughter, with additional counts concerning the abuse of a corpse and concealing the death of a child. During her recent preliminary hearing, the prosecution delved into grim details of the case, whereas her defense attorney, Chuck Pascal, cited potential mental health issues and dream states as factors.
At Mauthe’s preliminary hearing, it was disclosed by state police that the infants, referred to as Babies A, B, C, and D, were found in varying states of concealment, wrapped in towels and plastic and stored in containers like plastic totes and a bucket, some of which were in an attic described as a toy room or playroom and it’s not clear how much time elapsed between each infant’s birth and concealment, nor has there been a conclusive determination about each child’s exact cause of death. According to state police testimony, Trooper Justin Simons found the remains on September 13 after the homeowner discovered them post-eviction of Mauthe, revealing the magnitude of the tragedy enclosed within the walls of the Oak Avenue home.
Yet, in a move to humanize the defendant amidst the horror, Pascal, in comments obtained by CBS News, asked the public to reserve judgment until all the evidence is presented, affirming, “This is the beginning of a very long process and I would just ask people not to make assumptions before all the evidence is in.” Trooper Greg Durick, according to a TribLive interview, detailed Mauthe’s alleged confessions, which included circumstances surrounding the births that she suffers recollections that could plausibly be dreams rather than rooted in reality…