Baby John Doe, found underneath Town of Paris bridge
By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
When new information became available a year ago, authorities reopened a 1989 cold case homicide investigation of an infant found dead in the Town of Paris, and on Thursday, his body will be exhumed from a Town of Randall cemetery.
Authorities hope DNA from the infant, who was found dead underneath the Des Plaines River Bridge, could reveal his identity and potentially lead to a suspect, according to a Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department news release.
After trappers discovered the body along Highway N, authorities conducted an autopsy, concluding that the infant was born alive, therefore classified as a homicide, the news release stated.
In 1989, under direction of Sheriff Allan K. Kehl, Kenosha County authorities made a personal plea to the community, according to a release issued that year.
“Our intention is to locate the mother of this child to complete our investigation and to ensure that another child will not grow for nine months and be allowed to experience life for a brief moment,” the 27-year-old news release said.
“This baby boy was discarded under the bridge like so much garbage,” the release added. “This baby boy, once alive at birth, now lies cold and lifeless with no name or history, deprived of life by someone who would not or could not care for this child.”
In addition to a personal plea, authorities challenged community members to seek out neighbors, coworkers and other acquaintances.
“If anyone knows of a neighbor, co-worker, or anyone who was pregnant and due to deliver in late October or early November, and is no longer pregnant and no longer has the child, please call the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department,” the 1989 release added.
The release stated the white boy was full-term, weighing seven pounds and 21 inches long, and had no known birth defects.
Despite pleas for help, the case found its way into the detective bureau files, leaving authorities to review the homicide investigation on a periodic basis.
That was until a new lead had been unearthed a year ago, the release said, noting they “have developed a person of interest in the case.”
Despite pleas for help, the trail turned cold on the seven pound boy, leaving authorities to review the case since new information had been revealed about a year ago.
Two detectives had been assigned to the investigation since, the release said.
The exhumation of the infant, buried at St. John’s Cemetery, 9900 336th Avenue, will be under the supervision of Sheriff’s Department Detective Bureau, the Kenosha County Medical Examiner’s Office and representatives from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
“In order to obtain DNA evidence, the detectives have obtained approval to exhume the infant’s body from the cemetery,” the release stated.
The 1989 Baby John Doe case is one of 14 cold cases authorities hope to bring some closure to, according to the Sheriff’s Department website, with the oldest dating back to 1974, and most recently in 2003.
Like the 1989 Baby John Doe investigation, authorities are still seeking information on all cases, the website stated.
For more information, visit www.co.kenosha.wi.us/1523/Cold-Case-Files