Mother Identified and Charged in 40-Year-Old 'Baby Mary' Case

In a startling development, authorities have identified and charged the mother of a newborn girl whose lifeless body was discovered in a New Jersey park on Christmas Eve nearly four decades ago. The shocking announcement was made by Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carrol on Thursday.

Back in 1984, two young boys stumbled upon the infant in a remote section of Mendham Township, and she was quickly named "Baby Mary" by a police chaplain. What makes this case particularly heart-wrenching is that Baby Mary still had her umbilical cord attached when she was found, wrapped inside a towel within a plastic bag. Tragically, she was abandoned while still alive, as shared by Carrol.

The mother, who was only 17 years old at the time of this tragic incident, was arrested in South Carolina on April 24. She now faces charges as a juvenile for manslaughter. Although she is not currently in custody, authorities are closely monitoring her, according to Carroll.

Due to her status as a juvenile when the incident occurred, the woman's name has not been disclosed. Additionally, investigators have managed to determine the identity of the child's father, who was 19 at the time. However, it is crucial to note that he had no knowledge of the baby's existence and played no role in her untimely demise. Sadly, he passed away in 2009.

As of now, any potential motive or reason behind the abandonment of Baby Mary has not been made public.

The breakthrough in this long-standing case occurred several years ago when a DNA match was established between the infant and her biological father. While further details remain undisclosed, Carrol emphasized the significance of this DNA connection in finally bringing some closure to this heartrending mystery.