Mother confesses to killing eight babies
A 47-year-old French woman has confessed to suffocating eight new-born children and hiding her babies' bodies
French gendarmes conduct their investigation at the house where the bodies of eight newborn children were found in two different places in the house and the gardenHer husband didn't know - He looked as though his world had fallen apart
The woman and her husband, who is also in his 40s, have been detained.
The bodies were found wrapped in plastic bags at two homes in Villers-au-Tertre, a village of about 650 people, some 200km north of Paris.
Dominique Cottrez, an auxiliary nurse, initially confessed to killing two children at birth before admitting to police she had murdered six others dating back to the early 1990s, public prosecutor Eric Vaillant told a news conference.
"The mother knew she was pregnant ... She didn't want any more children and didn't want any doctors involved," Vaillant said, adding that her first pregnancy had been traumatic.
Cottrez told police she had not informed her husband about the pregnancies or her decision to kill the babies. Her large build would have made it easier for her to hide the pregnancies, the prosecutor said.
The crime came to light after new owners of the couple's previous home unearthed the remains of two babies under a tree in the garden. They alerted police who, after questioning Cottrez, found six other bodies in the garage of their new home.
"According to an autopsy, the bodies were not beaten ... The mother admits suffocating the babies at birth," Vaillant said.
Authorities have remanded Cottrez in custody at a secret location and placed her under formal investigation for the murder of minors, a prelude to presenting criminal charges.
Her husband, a carpenter, has been released after telling police he knew nothing about the crime. Vaillant said he appeared to learn about the killings when told by police: "He looked as though his world had fallen apart."
There was no immediate comment from the couple's lawyers.
FRANCE'S WORST INFANTICIDE
Although Cottrez says there were no more victims, police are continuing their search. Authorities were also conducting psychological tests on Cottrez to assess her criminal responsibility.
"We are trying to understand what happened," said Vaillant. "This is an out-of-the-ordinary case given the number of newborns."
Neighbours in the village said the couple, who have two daughters in their twenties, had never acted suspiciously. The husband was a member of the local council, the local mayor said.
"They were always smiling and warm-hearted," Madame Candelier, owner of the couple's former house where some of the bodies were discovered, told local television.
Sophie Marinopoulos, psychologist and author of a book on infanticide, said the case appeared to be the worst ever recorded in France.
A 38-year-old Frenchwoman was sentenced in March to 15 years in prison for killing six babies at birth between 2000 and 2007, until now the worst infanticide in the country. Another woman was released conditionally in June 2009 after she was convicted of killing three of her newborns between 1999 and 2003.
In both cases, the husbands were not judged as there was no evidence either was aware of the pregnancies or murders.
Experts say such killings often involve "denial of pregnancy," when women refuse to accept they are pregnant, sometimes leading to the murder of their children at birth.
Israel Nisand, professor at the University Hospital in Strasbourg, said there were about 500 cases of woman denying their pregnancies each year around the world.
"It's serious and dangerous, but not very well known about. It's as if there is a denial of the denial," he said.
Sisters
what kind of husband stays with a woman and doesnt see that shes pregnant? hes lyingReport Abuse
Deekay
I thought that's what abortion are for... and the contraceptives. it's time we women stop the infant's killing and start family planning please womenReport Abuse
Mathembis
Okay French lady, have you ever had of family planning, I she is a nurse after all, She is just a serial killer.Report Abuse
mamoruti
Madam Cottrez need to make an appointment with a Doctor to remove the danm womb and make sure its being fed pigs, while she is at it take the husband to antinetal classes to educate him on how to notice if your wife or girlfriend is expecting.by the way is she that big that no one can notice anything? IM SURE SHE WEIGHS 550-650KG just thinking it loudReport Abuse
Mamgobhozi
bathong, don't they have family planning in her area???????? I don't even want to mention the abortion, you can't abort 8 times unless you are a SERIAL KILLER!!!Report Abuse
zondoqt
What kind of a man who doesn't feel his wife that she is pregnant when he sleeps with her. Wake up hubby feel it it is here.Report Abuse
thatelo
this man is lying...he is just talking twaak..maybe,i mean ''maybe'' with the 1st baby he didnt feel his wife was preg..but.2,3,4,5,6..... nxa!!!Report Abuse
ccmuzi
If,one does'nt want kids they should give them away to available shelters and stop creating a bad image for responsible women out there.Report Abuse
Mimza
It makes me sick cause there are a lot of women who badly wants children & they can't conceive. sematla sa bo se bolaya banaReport Abuse