(Reuters)–A Utah woman was arrested and booked on suspicion of murder on Sunday (April 13) after police found the decomposing bodies of seven infants stuffed in separate cardboard boxes in her former home, authorities said.
The current owners of the home in Pleasant Grove, Utah, called police on Saturday after finding an infant’s remains while cleaning out their garage, Pleasant Grove Police CaptainMichael Roberts said.
Police found six other newborns, all wrapped in separate cardboard boxes, Roberts said. Six of the newborns appeared to have died from asphyxiation and the seventh was believed to be stillborn, he said.
Megan Huntsman, 39, was arrested and booked into the Utah County jail on suspicion of six counts of murder early Sunday, and the investigation is continuing, Roberts said.
“She was always a good babysitter because she babysat my grandchildren when they were little,” said neighbor Kathie Hawker.
Police believe the seven children were born to Huntsman from about 1996 to 2006.
“This came as a total shock to both she and I. We always thought she looked skinny. We never saw any evidence of pregnancies,” said Aaron Hawker, neighbor.
Pleasant Grove is about 35 miles (56 km) south of Salt Lake City.
