PLEASANT GROVE, Utah — DNA test results of the bodies of seven infants found in a Pleasant Grove home were completed, which reveal the gender of each child.
Pleasant Grove Police also released a motive behind the infants’ deaths.
Results show five females and two males were born to 39-year-old Megan Huntsman during the time span of 1996 to 2006. DNA confirms that Huntsman’s estranged husband, Darren West is the father.
"We had hoped that was the way it was going to be all along, and we believed that and it just confirmed it for us," said Capt. Michael Roberts with Pleasant Grove Police.
Police also say substance abuse was a factor into why Huntsman allegedly murdered her babies.
During the time of the pregnancies, Pleasant Grove Police say Huntsman was heavily involved in drugs and alcohol.
“Megan had stated in her interview during that time frame she was heavily into methamphetamine and after that period there was a period of alcohol abuse and it was pretty prevalent and she did say in her statement she needed money to buy drugs – it isn’t cheap and we got the impression that having a baby isn’t cheap and she couldn’t afford drugs and the baby,” said Roberts.
Roberts said he wasn’t sure if Huntsman was remorseful during their interview – “but she was very even keel and spoke freely and was happy to give us information."
The infants’ bodies were discovered April 13.
The babies were discovered when West reportedly found a dead infant, wrapped in plastic, concealed in a box inside the garage of his family’s home, located on the 500 East block of 200 North.
Police say West was living with Huntsman during the time of the murders, but he said he never even knew Huntsman was pregnant.
"His statement is that he didn't know she was pregnant, there are other statements from other family members as well, not just Darren a lot of people who had no idea she had been pregnant," said Roberts.
Police say Huntsman admitted to killing six of her children by strangulation or suffocation. The seventh baby was reportedly a stillborn.
Huntsman is facing six counts of murder in the newborns’ deaths.
Huntsman is expected back in court on July 21.
