40 Years Later, Mysterious Death Of PA Baby Under Investigation

PENNSYLVANIA — More than 40 years later, the mysterious killing of an unidentified infant in Pennsylvania continues to haunt authorities. An investigation into the death of "Baby Boy John Doe" is ongoing, Pennsylvania State Police announced on Wednesday.

The child was found in a mound of garbage at a landfill in Larksville Borough, Luzerne County back on Aug. 6, 1980. Efforts to identify the child or his mother were unsuccessful. An autopsy revealed the child likely died mere hours after his birth.

Authorities hope modern technology will help unravel the case.

“With the advancements in technology over the years, the Pennsylvania State Police continues to look for new ways to support older cases,” Major Jeremy Richard, PSP Acting Deputy Commissioner of Operations. “We are hopeful that technological advancements combined with public support will generate leads and a conclusion for this case.”

A second forensic opinion in 2000 argued that the infant may have lived for several days, longer than originally believed.

In 2016, as technology advanced, the child's remains were exhumed and examined by the University of South Florida Anthropology Unit. Researchers partnered with Othram, a genomic laboratory that works with law enforcement, for advanced DNA testing and forensic isotopes. The goal is to create a genetic profile of the child, to potentially identify siblings, parents, or other relatives. Similar technology was used to identify the suspect in a 2017 gunpoint rape of a jogger in Norristown Farm Park.

Othram officials say they've been able to name "hundreds" of previously unidentified individuals using their genome sequencing technology.

"The National Institute of Justice refers to the tens of thousands of unidentified persons in our country as the ‘silent mass disaster,'" Michael Vogen, Othram director of case management, said in a statement. "It is a key mission at Othram to build and scale technology that can allow all agencies to work through their backlogs of unidentified remains.”

Pennsylvania State Police and the Luzerne County District Attorney's Office are working with Othram on the case.

The child, known as "Baby Boy John Doe," is listed as Unidentified Person 15765 (UP-15765) in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NAMUS). If you have any information, submit tips to Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers.