Mom Accused of Killing 5 Babies Pleads Not Guilty

A Reading woman charged with killing five newborns and keeping their remains in a closet in her has pleaded not guilty.

Forty-four-year-old Michele Kalina entered not guilty pleas Tuesday to criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse and other charges.

Kalina was arrested in August after her husband and daughter discovered the remains in summer coolers and a cement-filled container in a closet of the family apartment July 29.

Investigators say Kalina killed the infants between 1996 and 2010 to cover up extramarital pregnancies. Kalina also bore a daughter from the same affair in 2003 but gave the baby up for adoption, authorities said.

Kalina's attorney says she may call psychiatrists to help defend the case.
Berks County Judge Linda Ludgate granted her request for a gag order.

Kalina was a nursing assistant who worked with elderly patients. She had 14 years of a stable work history with no maternity or extended medical leaves, but she told police she was prone to alcoholic black outs.

Kalina is being held without bail.