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OGDEN -- Ogden police say a woman who murdered one of her twin babies in January did it because she only wanted one child.
Early on, 25-year-old Jewell Hendricks admitted to killing her 2-month-old son Robert, saying it was because he wouldn't stop crying. In subsequent interviews, Detective Brian Eynon said Hendricks told him she had another motivation.
"She revealed that she didn't love Robert as much as she loved Daniel, and it would be much easier for her life if she only had one child instead of two," Eynon told KSL NewsRadio Thursday.
Additional details of the murder first emerged in a court hearing Wednesday. Eynon said Hendricks first placed Robert against her chest in a burping position and squeezed him hard enough to possibly break his collarbone.
She then put him in a sleeping bag, got on a couch and rolled over on top of him for several hours.
She revealed that she didn't love Robert as much as she loved Daniel, and it would be much easier for her life if she only had one child instead of two.
–Detective Brian Eynon
"It's really a sad situation," Eynon said. "I've handled multiple cases in the past that have been violent, and even more violent than this, but in this particular circumstance you have a 2-month-old baby who is innocent and is really murdered for no apparent reason other than selfish reasons of a mom wanting a better life or more quiet around the house."
Second District Court Judge Michael DiReda ordered Hendricks to stand trial for first-degree felony murder. Hendricks is due in court July 29 for a scheduling hearing.
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E-mail: aadams@ksl.com
