Sherburne County Closes Case of 1989 Abandoned Infant Without Pressing Charges

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

On April 23rd, 1989, a passerby made the grim discovery, and at the time, authorities lacked the technology to identify the girl or her parents. In 2023, using new investigative techniques, a breakthrough in the case led to a DNA match with the mother, now 56.

During a recent interview, she told authorities that she had hidden her pregnancy and the birth from her family. She said the child was stillborn, and she was in a state of panic. Pathologists examined the body and determined she was likely not born alive.

County Attorney Kathleen Heaney reviewed the case and ultimately decided not to bring charges, saying, “While the disposal of the child’s body was not in accord with the law, the statute of limitations has run and thereby forecloses any charges.”

The Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office says it cannot find the records of where the infant was buried originally. It is asking the public to help determine the location. If you have information, please call (763) 765-3500.

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