Sherburne County closes case of 1989 abandoned infant without filing charges

(KNSI) – The Sherburne County District Attorney’s Office says it is closing the case of a newborn baby found dead in a crate on the side of the road in Santiago Township 35 years ago.

On April 23, 1989, a passerby made the gruesome discovery, and authorities at the time lacked the technology to identify the girl or her parents. In 2023, the use of new investigative techniques led to a breakthrough in the case, resulting in a DNA match with the now 56-year-old mother.

In a recent interview, she told authorities that she kept her pregnancy and birth a secret from her family. She said the child was stillborn and she was in a panic. Pathologists examined the body and concluded that she was probably not born alive.

District Attorney Kathleen Heaney reviewed the case and ultimately decided not to file charges. She stated, “Even though the disposal of the child's body was illegal, the statute of limitations has expired and therefore no charges can be filed.”

The Sherburne County Sheriff's Office says it cannot find any records of the infant's original burial location. It is asking the public for help in determining the location. If you have any information, please call (763) 765-3500.

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