Northfield, Vermont – More than four decades after a tragic discovery by children waiting for a school bus, Vermont state police have finally resolved the case of an unidentified deceased infant found in Northfield in 1982. The police have located the biological parents of the baby and have announced that no charges will be filed in connection with the incident.
The deceased infant, a newborn boy, was discovered on April 1, 1982, but his identity remained unknown for years. Despite efforts to determine the cause of death through an autopsy, the investigation yielded no significant leads. Authorities had treated the case as a homicide until recently ruling out that classification.
The initial investigation was hindered by a lack of technology and information, stalling progress in identifying the infant or the parents. However, in 2020, the state police collaborated with a DNA technology company to conduct genealogy analysis, which eventually led to the identification of the baby’s biological mother and father in 2021.
After contacting the individuals, who resided in Maine, DNA samples were obtained and confirmed their parental relationship to the deceased baby. The mother admitted to unlawfully disposing of the infant, claiming she had been unaware of her pregnancy until experiencing sudden abdominal pain and delivering the baby alone.
Despite the tragic circumstances surrounding the infant’s death, authorities have decided not to pursue murder charges against the parents due to the statute of limitations on related offenses. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of continued efforts by law enforcement to seek justice for victims, even after many years have passed.
Police expressed their gratitude to the public for their support in financing the genetic testing and analysis that ultimately led to the resolution of the case. The baby, named Matthew Isaac by a reverend, was laid to rest at St. Mary’s Church in Northfield in 1982, bringing some closure to a long-standing mystery in the community.