Lindsey Lowe, Tenn. Mom, Confesses To Smothering Newborn Twins
HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. -- A young mother charged with murder has told police she hid her pregnancy, gave birth to twin sons at her family's home and killed the infants by smothering their cries so her parents wouldn't hear them.
Police in the Nashville suburb of Hendersonville arrested Lindsey Lowe, 25, on Wednesday after her father discovered one baby's body in a laundry basket.
According to a police affidavit, the young mother said she didn't tell her family she was pregnant, but believes she got pregnant in January and never visited a doctor. Police said on Thursday they were trying to identify the father of the twins.
Police said they interviewed Lowe who said she went into labor Monday evening while on the toilet at her parent's home. She said the first baby fell into the toilet and began to cry.
"Lowe stated that the baby was crying and Lowe did not want her parents to hear and find out about the child," police wrote in the affidavit. "Lowe stated that she put her hand over the child's mouth and she stated that she kept it there until the child was dead, which was a couple of minutes." Lowe said she never checked the sex of the child.
A few minutes later, the affidavit says, she gave birth to the second child, who also fell in the toilet. She again put her hand over the baby's mouth and held it there until the baby died, which she said took less time than the first child. She put both babies in the laundry basket and covered them up with blankets.
Police said both boys appeared to be full term and weighing about 5 or 6 pounds.
Lowe, who works at a pediatric dentist's office, was charged with first-degree murder and remained in jail Thursday with no bond. Police said she is undergoing a medical evaluation.
Police Lt. Scott Ryan said Thursday that he didn't know how she hid the pregnancy, just saying that she didn't tell anyone. He would not say whether Lowe was helping them to identify the father.
Ryan said women with unwanted pregnancies have several options, including a safe haven law that allows newborns to be dropped off at places like hospitals and police stations.
"No matter how bleak the outlook may be for you, let someone help you out," Ryan said.
Someone answered a call by The Associated Press to Lowe's father but hung up when asked for comment.
Senior Pastor at City Road Chapel United Methodist Church Ron Lowery said he got a call from Lowe's parents on Wednesday to come to the house for support during the police investigation. He said Lindsey and her sister grew up in the church and were regularly involved in youth activities.
On Thursday, he said the family was stable and was figuring out what to do next.
"It's amazing how we somehow have the ability to cope even in life's worst disasters," Lowery said.
As to why Lindsey was so desperate to hide the pregnancy, Lowery said, "It's a mystery to everybody."
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By TRAVIS LOLLER 09/15/11 09:26 PM ET Associated Press