A newborn baby is found dead in a New Hampshire pond. Police are searching for answers.
The body of a newborn baby girl was found in a pond at a New Hampshire park, and police are trying to figure out who put her there.
The child was found around 4 p.m. on March 27 in the water at Pine Island Park, about 59 miles northwest of Boston, the Manchester Police Department said in a news release Wednesday.
Manchester Police Chief Peter Marr said during a press conference Friday that someone called police that day and said they saw something in the water. It turned out to be a newborn baby girl.
Since then, police have asked for the public’s help figuring out what happened to her, calling her Baby Jane Doe.
He added that investigators are looking for tips from those who have:
- Knowledge of individuals discarding items in the pond at Pine Island Park since March 14.
- Information on ice conditions, including when the water was open.
- Photographs or videos taken of Pine Island pond since March 14.
- Information regarding anyone who may have been pregnant since March 14 who is no longer pregnant and does not have a newborn.
- Information on areas surrounding Pine Island Park with an unusual amount of blood.
- Information on a woman in need of medical care, particularly related to losses of blood.
Police are treating the case as a suspicious death investigation, Marr said.
“It's important to note that just because the infant was found in Manchester, it does not necessarily mean that the birth took place here, or that the mother is from our city,” Marr said.
He added that authorities don’t know anything about the mother’s condition, so they are concerned about her as well.
Police narrow down timeline surrounding Baby Jane Doe
Since police asked for the public’s help Friday in finding out what happened to Baby Jane Doe, Chief Marr has shared updates on her case.
He said Wednesday morning that whoever placed the baby girl in the park’s pond likely did so between March 25 and March 27. She was found at 4 p.m. on March 27, he reminded community members.
Marr said investigators have received about 50 tips through the tip line they’ve dedicated to the baby girl’s case, but they still need help.
He added that the Crime Line has offered a $2,500 reward for anyone who provides information that helps investigators find out where the baby girl came from.
“For those of you who didn't see anything and don't know anything regarding Baby Jane Doe, you can still help by sharing and reposting all of this on social media,” Marr said. “The more we share it, the more we get it out there, the better outcome we'll have.”
So far, tips have included photos from their visits to the park, allowing investigators to find out when the ice had melted in the area.
When asked about which direction the person who left the child may have come from, Marr said they likely came from the side of the park where the parking lot is due to easy access.
Case being treated as a suspicious death
Senior Assistant Attorney General Scott Chase of the Office of the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office spoke at the press conference and said there was an autopsy performed that led to officials treating the case as a suspicious death.
“At this point, we're not releasing any further information from the autopsy,” Chase said when asked for details. “Again, we're treating this as a suspicious death of this baby girl.”
Officials declined to answer questions from local reporters Friday about the conditions the baby girl was found under, citing the integrity of the investigation.
‘I worry about the mental health of my officers’
Manchester police previously worked the case of Harmony Montgomery, a 5-year-old girl whose father, Adam Montgomery, was sentenced to 45 years to life in prison for her death.
When a local reporter asked Marr how his department is holding up while investigating the death of children like Harmony and the recently found baby girl, he said it’s difficult.
“It's heartbreaking to have to deal with,” he said. “It's extremely tragic. I worry about the mental health of my officers. This is very difficult to deal with, to go out and see this … You can't just walk away. We have to actually sit here and deal with it and investigate it … Nobody likes to deal with stuff like this.”
Police chief wants mother to come forward; investigation still ongoing
When asked how common cases like these are, Chief Marr said they are rare. He was also asked if he has a message for the child’s mother.
“My message to the mother would be (to) come forward, tell us what happened,” Marr said.” At the end of the day, if she needs help, we need to be able to provide that help for her. We're also trying to seek justice for this baby.”
Chief Marr said that those with information can call the department’s dedicated tip line at (603) 716-7236, or the crime line at (603) 624-4040.
Contributing: Rin Velasco, Natalie Neysa ALund
Saleen Martin is a reporter on Paste BN's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.