Prosecutors allege Rowland demonstrated "depraved indifference to human life," but the case has drawn national attention because of its implications in the debate over parents' rights as well as women's rights.

"We knew it was going to be controversial, but we did not know that it was going to receive the national and international attention that it has," Morgan said.

Rowland told KSL Newsradio 1160 last week that she came to Utah from Florida in November to have the babies and had planned to place them for adoption. She denied she was advised to have a C-section and also denied prosecutors' claims she was worried about scarring from the procedure.

She said the twins were born by C-section Jan. 13 and said she has previously had two C-sections.

The murder charge was filed while Rowland was in the Salt Lake County Jail. She said she had been there for two months on a child endangerment charge, which apparently stems from the same incident. Rowland has a scheduled preliminary hearing in 3rd District Court this afternoon on that charge.

Court documents state on Jan. 2, Rowland visited LDS Hospital and saw a doctor who recommended an immediate C-section because of fetal heart difficulties and a problematic ultrasound that showed the babies were not developing well, and because Rowland had low amniotic fluid.

The doctor said in a written statement Rowland left the hospital against medical advice and that she acknowledged her departure could result in significant brain injury or death to one or both of the babies, court documents state.

Rowland's next court date on the murder charge is a scheduling conference set for Monday.

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E-mail: dsmeath@desnews.com