Mother Indicted By Grand Jury On Two Counts of First-Degree Premeditated Murder For Killing Newborn Twins
By Space Coast Daily // May 16, 2018
Thomas scheduled to appear in court for the indictment Wednesday at 1:15 p.m.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – A West Melbourne mother has been indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday on two counts of first-degree premeditated murder for the deaths of her newborn twins last month.
The jury handed down the indictment for Rachael Lynn Thomas, 30, after she allegedly killed her newborn boy and girl on April 15 at her residence located on 138 Laurel Oak St. in West Melbourne.
The investigation by West Melbourne Police and homicide investigators determined Thomas gave birth to the healthy twins then took their lives. Police say Thomas never told first responders about Baby Jane, until investigators discovered the body in a trash can.
Initially, Thomas claimed that she gave birth to the twins on a toilet. However, detectives determined that the children were killed shortly after birth with blunt force trauma to the head following a report from the Medical Examiner’s office.
“As originally reported, ‘Baby John Doe’ was transported to Holmes Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased,” said Capt. Cordeau of the West Melbourne Police Department.
“As a result of the death, investigators returned to the residence where they later found the discarded body of “Baby Jane Doe” in the trash can.”
“Preliminary autopsy results reveal the manner of death of the twins is a homicide,” Capt. Cordeau added.
“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. 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.”
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Thomas’ two other children, an 8-year-old boy and 1-year-old boy, have been placed by Department-Children & Families with other family members.
Thomas is scheduled for appear in court for the indictment Wednesday at 1:15 p.m.
Thomas continues to be held in the Brevard County Jail and held on a no bond status.
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