Charges: St. Paul Mother Smothered Baby Before Attempting Suicide

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- A 22-year-old St. Paul woman is facing murder charges as she's accused of smothering her baby before attempting suicide Wednesday by driving a vehicle into a light pole, according to charges filed Thursday by the Ramsey County Attorney.

Schwe Htoo has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the incident.

According to a criminal complaint, a man was walking his dog in the area of Como Avenue and Midway Parkway at about 11 a.m. when he heard the sound of a car crashing and engine revving. He didn't witness the crash, but saw a 1998 Honda Accord that had hit a light pole.

The complaint states that the driver, identified as Htoo, appeared to be in shock. A baby was strapped into a carrier in the back seat of the car, appeared blue-ish and was not moving. The baby, identified by authorities as Michael Kyaw Htoo, was pronounced dead at the scene and an investigation showed he had died before the crash.

Schew Htoo told authorities the baby was dead before the accident.

The complaint states when officers asked her what happened, she said, "This morning - I killed my child." She said she didn't need medical attention and was arrested.

According to the complaint, Schwe Htoo told authorities that at about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, she prepared a mixture of baby formula, sweets, three sleeping pills and substances for killing bed bugs. She fed the boy the bottle and he fell asleep. At about 1 a.m. she drank a mixture of same bottle herself.

The complaint states that later that morning, after neither of them had died from the mixture she covered the baby's mouth with both hands. She demonstrated to authorities using a blanket to cover the baby's mouth and nose while pressing down with her right hand. She said she used both hands, not at the same time, but switched back and forth for about five minutes until the baby died. She said it happened at about 6 a.m.

She told authorities cuts on her neck were from a kitchen knife used to try to cut her throat. She then took the vehicle with the baby and intentionally crashed the vehicle to try to kill herself.

The Ramsey County Medical Examiner ruled the baby's death a homicide. The baby was born Oct. 12, making him about five weeks old.

If convicted, Schwe Htoo faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.