Daughters did not know their mother's secret

The two daughters of a Frenchwoman who confessed to suffocating eight of her newborn babies and hiding their bodies have said they are "in shock" and "didn't notice anything".

Dominque Cottrez killed eight of her newborn children and buried them in the garden around her home.  She confessed saying that she was relieved to have taken this huge burden off her conscience. But prosecutors are curious at her confession.  Cottrez told the police that she had avoided visiting her doctor to acquire contraceptives.

Bones from the dead babies were discovered by the new owners of the Cottrez's home that is found in the sleepy town of Villier-sur-Tetre.