4 human fetuses found in Austrian home

updated 2:27 p.m. ET Nov. 13, 2008

VIENNA, Austria - Authorities in western Austria say they recovered four human fetuses from the home of an elderly woman who recently died.

Police in Innsbruck say they are now awaiting the results of DNA tests to determine whether the 68-year-old woman was the mother.

Officials say the woman had asked her male companion to make sure that the fetuses would "disappear" after her death. But he reported them to the police.

Experts said the fetuses were preserved in containers and appear to range in age from 10 to 16 weeks.

Prosecutors said Thursday there was nothing to suggest foul play.

They said it was possible that the fetuses had been professionally prepared for medical studies.

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