The quiet community of Pleasant Grove, Utah, was shaken to its core in 2014 when a horrifying discovery was made in the garage of an unassuming home. Seven tiny bodies, hidden away in boxes, revealed a decade-long secret that Megan Huntsman, a seemingly ordinary mother, had carried with her. This is the story of a woman lost in a haze of desperation and addiction, who committed unthinkable acts against her own flesh and blood.
The Grisly Discovery
On April 12, 2014, Darren West, Huntsman’s estranged husband, was cleaning out the garage of his parents’ home where Huntsman and their three daughters had lived. As he opened a small white box covered in electrician’s tape, he was met with an unimaginable sight: the remains of an infant. The pungent smell of chemicals filled the air, and West immediately called the police.
A search warrant was obtained, and the horrifying truth unfolded. Six more dead babies were found, each carefully wrapped and concealed in boxes throughout the garage. Huntsman, who had not lived in the home since 2011, was brought in for questioning.
A Mother’s Confession
Initially, Huntsman claimed the first baby was stillborn and she had been too afraid to go to the police or a hospital. But as more bodies were discovered, she eventually confessed to killing six of the seven infants. Between 1996 and 2006, she had strangled or suffocated them shortly after birth, then meticulously packaged their bodies and hid them away.
The seventh infant was indeed stillborn, a fact that would later play a role in her sentencing.
Unraveling the Mystery
Investigators were faced with a daunting task: reconstructing a decade of Huntsman’s life to understand how she concealed seven pregnancies and carried out these horrific acts. DNA tests were conducted to confirm paternity, and the bones were examined to determine the time of death and whether the babies were born alive.
Huntsman’s motive is chilling.. She admitted to being addicted to methamphetamine during the period when the babies were killed, and claimed she couldn’t afford to care for them and supply her drug habit. She also spoke of depression and feeling unable to be a good mother.
The Community in Shock
The news of Huntsman’s crimes sent shockwaves through Pleasant Grove. Neighbors described her as a quiet and seemingly normal woman, someone they trusted to babysit their children. No one had suspected the dark secret she harbored.
The case also raised questions about the role of Huntsman’s husband and her in-laws, who owned the home. While Darren West was incarcerated on drug charges during part of the time the babies were killed, investigators ultimately determined he had no knowledge of the pregnancies or the murders.
The Weight of Guilt
In February 2015, Megan Huntsman pleaded guilty to six counts of murder. During her sentencing hearing, the full extent of her crimes was revealed. Detective Dan Beckstrom, who had interviewed Huntsman, testified about the chilling details she shared, including using a hair tie to ensure one of the babies was dead.
Huntsman’s defense attorney portrayed her as a woman overwhelmed by addiction, depression, and a troubled marriage. She herself expressed remorse in a statement read by her attorney, acknowledging the power of her addictions and the “sick and heinous” nature of her crimes.
Justice Served
On April 20, 2015, Judge Darold McDade (the same judge who signed the original search warrants for the garage) sentenced Megan Huntsman to six terms of five years to life in prison. Three of those terms were to be served consecutively. Her first parole hearing is scheduled for April of 2064. She will be 89 years old.
Conclusion
The impact of Huntsman’s crimes extends far beyond her own life. Her surviving children, her family, and the community of Pleasant Grove will forever bear the scars of this tragedy. The seven babies, whose lives were cut short, will never be forgotten.
As Huntsman serves her sentence, the memory of her horrific acts serves as a cautionary tale. It is a reminder that even in the most seemingly ordinary of lives, darkness can lurk, and that the human capacity for both love and cruelty knows no bounds.
Megan Huntsman’s case raises difficult questions about mental health, postpartum depression, and the pressures of motherhood. How do you think her story can help us better understand these complex issues?
Sources
- This KSL.com Article after sentencing.
- Deseret News Article: Mother who killed 6 babies won’t get chance at parole until 2064
The Crime Chronicles 
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