A Minnesota woman, Jennifer Nichole Baechle, has been charged in a 13-year-old cold case involving the discovery of a dead baby girl, nicknamed “Baby Angel”.
DNA evidence has now confirmed that Baechle is the mother of the newborn, whose body was found floating in the Mississippi River back in 2011.
The Discovery of Baby Angel
In September 2011, boaters found the baby’s body floating in the Mississippi River, about seven miles south of Winona, Minnesota, during the Labor Day weekend. The baby’s body was found in a bag, which also contained incense, a pendant, and several angel figurines.
Despite efforts from one of the boaters to perform CPR, it was clear that the baby had already passed away. Authorities, struck by the presence of angel figurines, gave the baby the name “Baby Angel”. She was believed to be just a couple of days old at the time of her death.
The Medical Examiner’s Findings
A medical examiner determined that the baby had a four-inch section of her umbilical cord still attached, and several fractures on her skull. These injuries were sustained while the baby was still alive, according to an autopsy conducted in 2024.
For years, investigators were unable to identify the child or determine how she ended up in the river. That changed in May 2023 when DNA technology led authorities to Jennifer Baechle.
The Breakthrough in the Case
Authorities used DNA samples from Baby Angel to search for potential relatives. They eventually approached Baechle for a DNA sample, but she hired an attorney to respond to the request.
To confirm a DNA match, investigators went through Baechle’s trash and sent samples to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
The results confirmed that Baechle was the biological mother of the baby.
Family Recognition and Baechle’s Arrest
Relatives of Baechle recognized the blue pendant found with the baby, saying it was part of a collection of angel ornaments Baechle had. They also revealed that Baechle had been living in a van back in 2011 and that they had not been in contact with her for years.
Following the DNA confirmation, Winona County Sheriff’s Office charged Baechle with two counts of manslaughter. Sheriff Ron Ganrude commented during a news conference, saying, “For more than 13 years, Baby Angel’s tragic death has weighed heavily on the Winona community. She deserved better than a watery grave. She deserved more than a life cut short.”
Baechle’s Court Appearance
Baechle appeared in court for her arraignment on Thursday and was given a $200,000 unconditional bond and a $20,000 conditional bond.
It was also revealed that she had recently been hired to teach at Winona State University for the spring semester, but the university stated that another professor would now take over her class.