CNN
—
A Massachusetts girl pleaded responsible on Thursday to manslaughter within the demise of her new child, whose physique was found by a canine in a gravel pit practically 40 years in the past in Maine, in response to the Workplace of the Maine Lawyer Normal.
Lee Ann Daigle, 59, of Lowell, was arrested in June final 12 months and charged with one rely of homicide, in response to Maine State Police.
Child Jane Doe was discovered lifeless in Frenchville, Maine, on December 7, 1985. A Husky discovered the child and carried her again to his proprietor’s residence, round 700 toes from the place the new child’s physique was found. State detectives have been in a position to observe the canine’s path to the situation the place Child Jane Doe was born, and later deserted, in below-zero temperatures on the gravel pit, police stated.
The lifeless child was discovered unclothed and partially frozen with a part of her umbilical wire nonetheless hooked up, stated Danna Hayes, a particular agent to the Workplace of the Maine Lawyer Normal.
Advances in DNA expertise utilized by regulation enforcement helped break the chilly case open, police stated. Genetic family tree info generated investigative leads that helped Maine State Police establish Daigle, previously often called Lee Ann Guerette, because the child’s organic mom, stated Shannon Moss, a spokesperson for the Maine Division of Public Security.
Whereas each mother and father have been discovered alive, solely Daigle was charged, Hayes informed CNN.
Daigle was launched on bail from Aroostook County in August 2022, in response to court docket paperwork. Her sentencing is scheduled for June 20. CNN tried to contact a lawyer for Daigle and didn’t obtain an instantaneous response.
In 2015, a “Secure Haven” regulation went into impact in Maine. The regulation permits mother and father to give up infants lower than 31 days outdated to Secure Haven suppliers, which embrace regulation enforcement officers, emergency room workers, medical suppliers, and hospital workers. The regulation protects the confidentiality of the mum or dad relinquishing a child and stipulates that suppliers can’t try to detain the mum or dad.