Woman Arrested In 1996 Case Of Baby Found In Reservoir

More than two decades after the body of a newborn baby was found in a Colorado reservoir, a woman has been arrested in connection with the murder, the Larimer County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday. The child, "Baby Faith," was found in the Horsetooth Reservoir in 1996.

Jennifer Katalinich, also known as Jennifer Tjornehoj, 42, faces first-degree murder charges.

The baby girl was found by two 11-year-old boys on the shores of the reservoir on Aug. 24, 1996. Authorities were unable to identify the child.

An autopsy revealed the baby suffocated to death after she was wrapped in a trash bag. Her umbilical cord was still attached, the sheriff's office said.

An investigation was launched and authorities followed several leads, but investigators were unable to identify the baby's mother, and years later, the case was declared cold.

Baby Faith was buried in a community-funded grave in Fort Collins' Roselawn Cemetery.

The case was re-opened on the 10th anniversary of the girl's death after advances in DNA technology; however, no progress was made in the case.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigations met with Larimer County investigators in July after DNA evidence linked the baby with five people, the sheriff's office said. The case was re-opened.

Investigators went to Minnesota, where three of the people lived; however, all three were excluded as suspects. Investigators then traveled to Maryland and met with a fourth suspect. Based on the Maryland interview, investigators learned that Katalinich could have information about the cold case, the sheriff's office said. She was interviewed Oct. 18, and a warrant for her arrest was issued Friday.

Katalinich appeared in court Tuesday morning, posted a $25,000 cash bond, and was released. She's scheduled to appear back in court Jan. 21.