Prosecutors: Death penalty not sought for Tenn. mom charged with smothering newborn twins

(CBS/AP) GALLATIN, Tenn. - Prosecutors say they will not seek the death penalty against a Tennessee woman charged in the smothering deaths of her newborn twin sons.

Sumner County District Attorney General Ray Whitley had previously said the death penalty was a possibility for 25-year-old old Lindsey Lowe. But he ruled it out on Thursday after a grand jury's indictment on first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse charges.

He says it's not appropriate in this case.

Lowe has told police she hid her pregnancy, and gave birth to twin sons at her family's home on Sept. 12. She said she killed the infants by covering their mouths, to smother their cries so her parents couldn't hear them.

Police in the Nashville suburb of Hendersonville arrested Lowe after her father discovered one baby's body in a laundry basket.

Lowe's attorney has said he feels Lowe's actions are a "mental health issue."

According to CNN, Whitley says Lowe will be formally arraigned November 18 and could face, if convicted, potential consecutive life sentences on the murder charges.

She remains free on $250,000 bond, he reportedly said.

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September 16, 2011 - Tenn. mother Lindsey Lowe tells police she hid pregnancy, smothered newborns