Utah mom who killed 6 newborns jailed for 30 years to life

A Utah mother was sentenced Monday to 30 years to life in prison for admitting she murdered six newborns because she was too overwhelmed by drug addiction to care for them.

"In some small way, I wanted to help them avoid the terrible life I would have given them," Megan Huntsman said in a statement her attorney read aloud. "I deprived my little babies of the opportunity of life. … Those babies aren't coming back, and they never will because of my actions."

The 40-year-old mother of three from Pleasant Grove pleaded guilty in February to six counts of first-degree murder for killing the infants shortly after home births between 1996 and 2006, and storing their remains in boxes in the garage. Her estranged husband, Darren West, discovered them and the remains of a still-born infant during spring cleaning after he served a prison sentence for drugs. Tests showed he was the father of all of the babies.

Huntsman attributed her actions to methamphetamine and alcohol addiction, an abusive marriage and depression.

Her sister read letters from two of Huntsman's three daughters. Her mother also made a statement of support.

Huntsman's youngest daughter wrote of being "shocked and heartbroken" by her mother's crimes.

"This is not the Mom I know," her letter reads. "The Mom I know was the one who had dinner for us every night, a clean house and was a loving mother. Nobody could guess my mom would do anything like this."

Separately, Jamie Huntsman told the court her sister "is not a monster. She's not evil. From what I understand, she was scared."

Nonetheless, Provo Judge Darold McDade sentenced her to the maximum term, which will make her eligible for parole in 30 years.

Utah County Attorney Jeff Buhman said, however, he doubted Huntsman would ever be released.

"These were very cold and calculated killings," Buhman said. "She was a woman who was remarkably unbelievable and incredibly indifferent. She smothered or strangled six of her own flesh and blood."