Florida mother tells police she birthed stillborn twins, hid one in trash

WEST MELBOURNE, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - A Florida mother told police she thought she was suffering from heartburn, before she birthed stillborn twins over a toilet at her home, according to court documents.  

However, authorities said results of an autopsy report indicate that the newborns were deliberately killed immediately after their births. 

Rachael Lynn Thomas, 30, of West Melbourne, now faces upgraded charges including:  two counts of felony murder and two counts of aggravated child abuse in the deaths of the newborns, as well as one count of premeditated murder in the death of the newborn daughter. 

The twins were found dead at her duplex on Sunday.  Police say Thomas told them she went to her job at 9 a.m. but left sick a half hour later. According to her arrest warrant, the mother told police she went to the bathroom, but ended up birthing twin babies. Police say they weren't called until several hours later, and when they arrived, the mother only showed first responders one dead infant.

Police say the newborn's twin was later found in the outdoor trash can by crime scene investigators. When detectives asked the mother about it, they say she claimed the twins were stillborn, causing her to panic.

"Preliminary autopsy results reveal the manner of death of the twins is homicide. Detectives learned that Baby Jane and Baby John suffered severe blunt force trauma to their heads, not consistent with Thomas’ story of giving birth in a toilet," read a statement sent to FOX 35 from West Melbourne Police Capt. Richard Cordeau Tuesday evening. "In addition, the umbilical cord was wrapped around Baby Jane’s throat and a foreign object was lodged in her throat to block her airway. After discarding her in the trash can, Thomas threw additional trash on top of Baby Jane in an attempt to conceal her. Both babies are believed to have been carried a full 39 week term." 

Thomas' other children, two boys ages one and eight, have been placed by the Florida Department of Children and Families with other family members.  She will remain incarcerated in the Brevard County Jail where she is now being held on a no bond status.