Detectives from the New Jersey State Police and Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office are hopeful a composite sketch of a full-term, newborn infant, whose remains were discovered among trash at a recycling center in Farmingdale, Monmouth County, will help identify her mother.
The baby, who was named Emma Grace by the Ardena Baptist Church in Howell, was 21.5 inches, 7 pounds, and five ounces, when she was discovered more than five months ago by an employee of the ReCommunity Recycling facility on Railroad Avenue, in Farmingdale.
The baby’s remains have been released to the church, which will hold a funeral for her on Saturday, April 18, 2015, at 3:30 p.m.
The headless body of Emma Grace was discovered at approximately 1:30 p.m., on Tuesday, November 11, 2014, prompting an exhaustive search of the surrounding trash. Investigators uncovered the infant’s head, two blood-stained blouses, and a bag from a retail store area in Orange.
The old blouses had no tags, but their size could be characterized as petite to medium. Both the clothing and the bag are believed to be connected with the mother of the infant.
The Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office has not determined the cause and manner of death for the headless, full-term infant girl, but is certain that she was not stillborn. Evidence suggests that the newborn girl breathed before she died. Based on hair characteristics, the baby is of mixed race, possibly Hispanic origin.
The State Police have spoken with an FBI profiling expert who believes if the mother of the infant is responsible for putting the baby’s body in a dumpster, she may have been trying to hide her pregnancy prior to giving birth. She might have been living a different lifestyle than she was accustomed to, and since the birth she may have resumed some of her more normal routines.
There has been no evidence at this time to point to the mother being a victim of foul play, although the possibility has not been ruled out.
Detectives hope someone may recognize the baby based on the composite sketch or provide assistance to find the mother based on the items of clothing. The attached pictures show the composite sketch and clothing.
Members of the NJSP Major Crime Unit, Troop “C” Criminal Investigations Office, Crime Scene Investigation Central Unit, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, and Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office are continuing to carry this investigation forward together.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Francis Robina with the New Jersey State Police Major Crime Unit at (609) 882-2000 ext. 2538 or Detective Brian Weisbrot of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443.
Anyone with information about this case may anonymously contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-671-4400, which is a confidential telephone tip-line, or text “MONMOUTH” plus the tip to 274637 or email tip via the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com.
Monmouth County Crime Stoppers does not need your name, and will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the identity of the baby’s mother.