Missouri mother charged with killing her infant twins

CLAYTON, Mo. – A Missouri mother who said her infant twins were stillborn has been charged with killing the children.

Maya Caston, 25, of St. Louis, faces two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of child abuse, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s office announced Sunday. No attorney is listed for her in online court records.

A St. Louis County detective wrote in the probable cause statement that she gave birth to the boy and girl between Jan. 6. and Wednesday, when she called police. She told officers that she unexpectedly went into labour and that the infants were stillborn. But police said later that the children had been carried to full term and neither was stillborn.

The detective wrote that she covered the babies’ mouths and noses with a towel and blanket, concealed them and failed to seek medical attention. The complaint said she also failed to provide them with food.

She is jailed on a $500,000 cash-only bond.