Authorities in the Tampa area have announced the arrest of a woman connected with one of the area’s most tragic cold cases, “Baby Angel.” This newborn was found dead in the Mississippi River in 2011. Author Jennifer Nichole Baechle is a writer, artist, and photographer living in Winona, Minnesota. After DNA testing determined she’s Baby Angel’s biological mother, she was charged with two counts of second-degree manslaughter. The arrest follows several years of investigation into the details of the infant’s death.
On September 5, 2011, an angler found Baby Angel drifting in a duffel bag about seven miles south of Winona. A follow-up autopsy confirmed the infant had likely been born only a day or two prior to her death. Strangely enough, a four-inch piece of the umbilical cord remained attached to her body. This generally indicates that a clinician mishandled the specimen during sectioning.
Sheriff Ron Gandrude of Winona County stated that Baby Angel’s death has “weighed heavily on the hearts of the Winona community.” In 2016, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office organized a funeral for Baby Angel. This 36 square group This conversion highlighted the continued influence of the grievous case on neighborhood citizens.
By March 2023, the investigation into Baby Angel’s death gained momentum. Firebird Forensics Group pinpointed Baechle as a likely person of interest in the case. Later on, authorities did confirm that connection between family members. Baechle’s family members recognized a blue pendant found with Baby Angel as belonging to Baechle. This evidence is what prompted deputies to pursue a warrant to obtain Baechle’s DNA to compare.
When authorities contacted Baechle about providing a voluntary DNA sample, she declined. Accordingly, deputies secured a warrant to officially obtain her DNA. The new DNA results, released in mid-October, confirmed that Baechle is indeed Baby Angel’s mother. This is compelling additional evidence that bolsters law enforcement’s case against her to the fullest.
Winona County Attorney Karin Sonneman remarked on the investigation, saying, “At this time, she is the only parent that came up.” The community’s grieving for Baby Angel’s fate has only deepened with the recent developments in the case.
After her arrest, Baechle went to court for a bail hearing. A judge ultimately ruled that unconditional bail should be set at $200,000 and conditional bail at $20,000. Those proceedings attracted public scrutiny that served to refocus attention on this tragic case that has shaken the community for more than 15 years.