The saying “what’s done in the dark will come to light” has been around for a good while. The adage is so old it can’t be attributed to one person. Whoever coined it likely didn’t know how it would continue to ring more and more true as time went on. These days, with increased surveillance, recording devices in everyone’s pockets, and scientific advancements, it’s harder and harder to get away with anything.
One woman is learning this lesson anew. A crime she allegedly committed over a decade ago may be resurfacing thanks to the persistence of a Minnesota police department, dumpster diving, and advanced DNA testing.
Nearly 14 years ago, on September 5, 2011, boaters saw an infant’s body floating in the Mississippi River in Minnesota, KARE 11 reports. The infant’s body was contained in a plastic bag. Inside it, there was also a pendant, incense, and several angel figurines. Officials did an autopsy of the baby girl, dubbed Baby Angel, and learned that she was full-term and had likely been born a day or two before those boaters found her.
There was a 4-inch piece of umbilical cord still attached to the body, suggesting the baby had not received medical treatment. There were also several fractures in the baby’s skull and blood on the brain. Another autopsy, conducted in 2024, found that the baby had sustained these injuries after birth, while it was still alive.
Back in 2011, investigators were not able to locate the child’s mother. The case went cold and the sheriff’s office hosted a burial for the baby in 2016, NBC News reports. Still, they continued investigating. Officials teamed up with the Firebird Forensics Group to see if they could find any potential relatives. In March 2023, authorities identified now 42-year-old Jennifer Nichole Baechle as a potential lead.
They asked her to provide a DNA sample but she refused. Afterward, investigators searched her trash. They found discarded feminine hygiene products and tested the blood found there against that of Baby Angel. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension concluded that Baechle could be the baby’s mother.
Deputies used a warrant to require Baechle to submit a more formalized DNA sample. The report found “very strong evidence” that she is the child’s mom. As a result, authorities arrested Baechle and she was charged with two counts of second-degree manslaughter. Winona County Attorney Karin Sonneman said Baechle had lived in Winona for several years and was married with two children. So far, she’s the only person charged in the infant’s death. The identity of the baby’s father remains unknown.
When investigators spoke to Baechle’s family members, they told them they had been estranged since 2011. They reported that she was living in a van almost 14 years ago. When investigators showed the family members pictures of some of the items in the bag with the baby, they immediately recognized the blue pendant as having belonged to Baechle. They also said she collected angels and members of the family would give her an angel ornament for Christmas each year.
Baechle is currently out on bail after agreeing to conditions set by the judge. While she is a flight risk, she is not considered a danger to society. While on bail, she must wear a GPS monitor and remain in Minnesota. If convicted, she could face a presumptive sentence of 48 months in prison.
