Mother arrested in 14-year-old cold case of ‘Baby Angel’ infant found dead in Mississippi River

A female has been charged successful nan acold lawsuit of an babe recovered dormant and floating successful nan Mississippi River 14 years agone aft DNA testing revealed she was nan mother of nan newborn dubbed Baby Angel, according to officials.

Jennifer Nichole Baechle, 43, was charged pinch 2 counts of second-degree manslaughter for nan decease of nan newborn, who was recovered floating successful a container connected Sept. 5, 2011, successful a conception of nan stream adjacent Winona, Minnesota, officials location announced Thursday.

The newborn was wrapped successful a greenish T-shirt, encased successful 2 integrative garbage bags, and past placed wrong a tote from a Mexican edifice besides containing a pendant, incense,and respective angel figurines, starring to her being known arsenic “Baby Angel,” a criminal title obtained by nan Winona Post noted.

“While her commencement mother remained hidden, this organization wrapped its arms astir this small girl,” Winona County Sheriff Ron Ganrude said astatine a Thursday property conference.

“Ever since, they’ve waited successful patience for answers that she deserved. We ne'er gave up moving to find those answers.”

“She deserved amended than a watery grave, she deserved much than a life trim short.” Ganrude said.

Baby Angel was calved conscionable a time aliases 2 earlier she died, a 2011 autopsy revealed.

A 4-inch cord was attached to nan babe and did not look to beryllium trim by a aesculapian supplier — and she had suffered respective skull fractures, nan autopsy said.

Multiple agencies investigated nan baby’s death, but location were nary awesome developments until 2023, erstwhile a nonprofit familial investigation company, Firebird Forensics Group,  identified Baechle arsenic a imaginable lead in nan case.

Baechle denied constabulary requests for a DNA sample — but authorities were capable to cod a utilized feminine hygiene merchandise from nan trash extracurricular her home.

The lucifer was confirmed pinch further testing a twelvemonth later, pinch DNA recovered connected nan container Baby Angel was recovered successful besides matching Baechles, nan title said.

Baechle’s family said they did not person interaction pinch her successful 2011, and that she was surviving successful a van — but knew she collected angel figurines and nan pendant recovered pinch her baby, according to nan document.

If convicted, she faces 4 years successful prison, cops said.

She is presently held connected an unconditional bail of $200,000 and a conditional bail of $20,000, pending her statement not to time off nan authorities and deterioration a GPS show aft a judge wished her to beryllium a formation risk.