North Carolina cold case detectives charge mother with newborn's death 21 years ago
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}North Carolina cold case detectives have arrested the mother of a newborn who died after being tossed from a moving car 21 years ago this month.
Authorities said they linked Deborah Riddle O’Connor, 54, to “Baby Michael” after submitting the infant’s DNA to a lab that specializes in genetic genealogy testing.
Her arrest for first-degree murder was announced Thursday by Cumberland County Sheriff Ennis Wright.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“Detectives have never given up working on this homicide, and finally got a break in the case,” Wright said.
Mugshot for Deborah Riddle O’Connor, 54. (Cumberland County Sheriff's Office)
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Wright said the investigation began March 3, 1999, with the discovery of a plastic trash bag by a soldier who was driving by and thought he saw a doll inside.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“Inside the bag was no doll, instead it was a baby boy not even 24 hours old, his umbilical cord still attached,” the sheriff said.
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The baby died of blunt force trauma after being tossed from a vehicle, authorities said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Detectives said O’Connor was living in another county, 200 miles away from where the baby was found.
She admitted being the baby’s mother during an interview with detectives, Wright said.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}O'Conner was jailed after her arrest and is due in court Friday.