Wash. police arrest mother Laura Lynn Hickey in newborn's decapitation

(CBS/AP) CENTRALIA, Wash. - Laura Lynn Hickey was arrested Wednesday for investigation of first-degree murder in the death of her newborn son who was found decapitated under her kitchen sink, officials say.

The Centralia police conducted a week-long investigation of the boy, who was born 21 weeks into Hickey's pregnancy.

The pathologist concluded the baby was alive at birth but "suffered fatal injuries by decapitation," Officer John Panco said Wednesday night.

Police said the body was found March 2 under the kitchen sink in Hickey's trailer home.

Paramedics responded to the woman's home just before 1 a.m. on March 2 after neighbors heard her call for help, according to police. Hickey told the doctors at Centralia Providence Hospital that she was having a miscarriage but police said an exam showed she had given birth. The 25-year-old then told the emergency room staff that the baby was under the kitchen sink at her home, police said.

Officers went her trailer and found the decapitated baby's body.

Hickey has three other children but they do not live with her, Panco said, adding Child Protective Services removed them from her care about a year ago.

Police located the baby's father, but he was not present when Hickey gave birth, according to police.

"Our investigations have determined she is the only one involved," Panco said. In police interviews "there hasn't been any solid reason from her why this happened."

Hickey said she had picked out baby names and had chosen "Caleb Jacob Hickey" for a boy, the officer said.

Hickey is scheduled to appear in Lewis County Superior Court Thursday afternoon. Panco said he expects she will be formally charged with first-degree murder.