43-year-old Jennifer Nichole Baechle has been charged in a cold case involving an infant found dead in the Mississippi River 14 years ago. DNA testing identified Baechle as the mother. She’s currently facing two counts of second-degree manslaughter for the baby, known as Baby Angel, discovered on Sept. 5, 2011.
According to the New York Post, the baby was discovered covered in a green T-shirt and sealed in two plastic bags, placed inside a tote from a Mexican resort in a region of the river.
Ron Ganrude, the Winona County Sheriff, “While her birth mother remained hidden, this community wrapped its arms around this little girl.”
“Ever since, they’ve waited in patience for answers that she deserved. We never gave up working to find those answers,” the sheriff added.
He continued, “She deserved better than a watery grave, she deserved more than a life cut short.”
The autopsy from 2011 showed that Baby Angel was born a mere day or two before her death. It revealed a 4-inch cord still attached to her, which seemed not to have been cut by a medical professional. The baby also had multiple skull fractures, according to the report.
Several agencies looked into the baby’s death, but progress was slow until 2023 when Firebird Forensics Group linked Baechle to the case. Baechle declined to provide a DNA sample, but officials collected a used feminine hygiene product from her trash. A year later, DNA testing confirmed the match.
Baechle’s family reported they had no contact with her in 2011, stating she was residing in a van. However, they did mention that she collected angel figurines and the pendant that was found with the baby. If convicted, she could face four years behind bars, officials say.
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
