Death penalty sought for mom of slain newborn twins

Prosecutors are now seeking the death penalty against a Brevard County mother, accused of killing her two infants. 

Investigators say Rachel Thomas, 30, of West Melbourne, killed her babies shortly after giving birth to them in April. They say Thomas lied about delivering the children at first, saying she only gave birth to one. One baby was found outside in the trash.

Thomas 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.

Autopsy results revealed the manner of death of the twins was homicide, investigators said. 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,"said West Melbourne Police Capt. Richard Cordeau, in the days following her arrest. "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.