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WIF090429; "Baby"
Topic Started: May 11 2009, 07:39 PM (273 Views)
ELL
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Service for abandoned dead baby ends with unanswered questions
By BARRY ADAMS
608-252-6148
badams@madison.com
LOWELL — A year from now, there will be no first steps or a messy face with birthday cake.

She’ll not learn to catch a bluegill from a dock, have a chance to beam at kindergarten graduation or fret about a date to the prom.

Baby Theresa’s life was short; the image of her face, drawn in pencil by a police sketch artist, ghostly innocent.


• Read or post a message on an on-line registry for Baby Theresa
• 'Baby Theresa' case still a mystery in Dodge County (May 5)


Found dead in a garbage bag April 29 near the Theresa Marsh in northeastern Dodge County, the newborn was buried here Monday in a 24-inch-long white casket, dressed in a pink, one-piece outfit and a white sweater.

The baby’s mother was a no-show. But dozens of strangers, some with children in tow, gathered on the dandelion-covered, 157-year-old Lowell Cemetery to say goodbye to a little girl they never knew but will always remember.

"It’s important for someone to be here because she didn’t have that on her own," said Wendy Ninmann of Beaver Dam, who brought her son, Nick, 13, and daughter, Nevaeha, 18-months. "There are people who care."

They came from Lowell and nearby Reeseville. Some traveled from West Bend, North Fond du Lac and Neenah.

Baby Theresa’s hometown remains a mystery, along with her cause of death.

She was born full term at an estimated 40 to 42 weeks, weighed 8 pounds and would have been born sometime between April 27 and April 29, according to the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department.

A funeral can offer closure. Monday’s service ended with unanswered questions.

Who are her parents, and how did she end up here? Where was the baby born, and who else knew about the birth? Was this a homicide or something else?

Numerous tests are under way to try to answer some of those, but as of Monday, the case was not a homicide.

"It’s a minor crime of unauthorized disposal of a corpse. That’s all it is right now," said Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls.

"Today, was about doing the right thing and making the right choices because we know the mother, or the parents of Baby Theresa, did the wrong thing and made the wrong choice and we’re trying to fix as much as we can."

Pink roses and baby’s breath covered the top of the casket. By the end of the service, more flowers, stuffed animals and notes appeared.

About 40 of the 60 people in attendance signed a guest registry at the service. An online registry held more than 120 messages as of late Monday. Most were from Wisconsin but others were sent from computers in Arizona, Illinois, Mississippi and Hawaii.

Lowell is located about 10 miles east of Columbus along the Beaver Dam River and about 45 miles northeast of Madison. The cemetery is on a rise on the village’s southeast side near Fireman’s Park.

Among those in attendance was Jessica Michaels. The Beaver Dam woman gave birth to her son, Calvin, two weeks ago. She held him close, looking into his eyes while hers filled with tears throughout the brief service.

"I just kept thinking about how much I love this little guy and how happy and fortunate I am to have him here with us," Michaels said. "I just can’t imagine something like this happening."

Rev. Timothy Bauer, Dodge County’s chaplain, had difficulty understanding the case, too.

"After Baby Theresa was born, instead of being wrapped in a soft comforter to stay warm, she was wrapped in a white garbage bag," Bauer said in his eulogy. "Instead of being held close, she was pushed away. Instead of experiencing compassion, this little girl knew only rejection and loneliness. If only someone had taken her to a hospital."

Janet Kirsling of Neenah adopted a baby that was abandoned at a clinic in Neenah. Her son, Conner, is now six and will finish kindergarten in a few weeks.

"That was six years ago and ever since that time, we’ve tried to do whatever we could to promote the Safe Haven law," Kirsling said after the service. "I just wish (Baby Theresa’s mother) would have heard me. It doesn’t have to end like this."

Baby Theresa, a full-term, 8-pound, white, newborn with dark brown or black hair was discovered April 29 in a garbage bag 32 yards off the west side of Lone Road in the town of Theresa.

A suspicious vehicle seen in the area is described as a Dodge Shadow, possibly a 1993 model, and is metallic blue with a black hood. Two people were seen in the vehicle. It is unknown if the driver represented in the sketch is a man or woman.

Anyone with information on the identity of the vehicle or its driver or with information about Baby Theresa is asked to contact the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department at 920-386-3726 or WeTip at 800-78-CRIME.

http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/450735
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No mother, but a lot of love, at Baby Theresa's funeral
BARRY ADAMS
608-252-6148
badams@madison.com
LOWELL — A year from now, there will be no first steps or a messy face with birthday cake.

She’ll not learn to catch a bluegill from a dock, have a chance to beam at kindergarten graduation or fret about a date to the prom.

Baby Theresa’s life was short; the image of her face, drawn in pencil by a police sketch artist, ghostly innocent.


• Read or post a message on an online registry for Baby Theresa


Found dead in a garbage bag April 29 near the Theresa Marsh in northeastern Dodge County, the newborn was buried here Monday in a 24-inch-long white casket, dressed in a pink, one-piece outfit and a white sweater.

The baby’s mother was a no-show. But dozens of strangers, some with children in tow, gathered at the dandelion-covered, 157-year-old Lowell Cemetery to say goodbye to a little girl they never knew.

"It’s important for someone to be here because she didn’t have that on her own," said Wendy Ninmann of Beaver Dam, who brought her son, Nick, 13, and daughter, Nevaeha, 18 months. "There are people who care."

They came from Lowell and nearby Reeseville. Some traveled from West Bend, North Fond du Lac and Neenah.

Baby Theresa’s hometown remains a mystery, along with her cause of death.

She was born full term at an estimated 40 to 42 weeks, weighed 8 pounds and would have been born sometime between April 27 and April 29, according to the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department.

A funeral can offer closure. Monday’s service ended with unanswered questions.

Who are her parents, and how did she end up here? Where was the baby born, and who else knew about the birth? Was this a homicide or something else?

Numerous tests are under way to try to answer some of those, but as of Monday, the case was not a homicide.

"It’s a minor crime of unauthorized disposal of a corpse. That’s all it is right now," said Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls.

"Today, was about doing the right thing and making the right choices because we know the mother, or the parents of Baby Theresa, did the wrong thing and made the wrong choice and we’re trying to fix as much as we can."

Pink roses and baby’s breath covered the top of the casket. By the end of the service, more flowers, stuffed animals and notes appeared.

About 40 of the 60 people in attendance signed a guest registry at the service. An online registry held more than 120 messages as of late Monday. Most were from Wisconsin but others were sent from Arizona, Illinois, Mississippi and Hawaii.

The cemetery is on a rise near Fireman’s Park in Lowell, about 40 miles northeast of Madison and about 22 miles from where Baby Theresa was found.

Among those in attendance was Jessica Michaels. The Beaver Dam woman gave birth to her son, Calvin, two weeks ago. She held him close, looking into his eyes while hers filled with tears throughout the brief service.

"I just kept thinking about how much I love this little guy and how happy and fortunate I am to have him here with us," Michaels said. "I just can’t imagine something like this happening."

The Rev. Timothy Bauer, Dodge County’s chaplain, had difficulty understanding the case, too.

"After Baby Theresa was born, instead of being wrapped in a soft comforter to stay warm, she was wrapped in a white garbage bag," Bauer said in his eulogy. "Instead of being held close, she was pushed away. Instead of experiencing compassion, this little girl knew only rejection and loneliness. If only someone had taken her to a hospital."

Under state law a parent who turns over an unharmed newborn within three days of birth to a hospital, law enforcement or emergency medical personnel can’t be prosecuted for child abandonment or neglect.

Janet Kirsling, of Neenah, adopted a baby that was abandoned at a clinic in Neenah. Her son, Conner, is now 6 and will finish kindergarten in a few weeks.

"That was six years ago and ever since that time, we’ve tried to do whatever we could to promote the Safe Haven law," Kirsling said after the service. "I just wish (Baby Theresa’s mother) would have heard me. It doesn’t have to end like this."

What the authorities know:

Baby Theresa, a full-term, 8-pound, white, newborn with dark brown or black hair was discovered April 29 in a garbage bag 32 yards off the west side of Lone Road in the town of Theresa, according to the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office.

Witnesses described seeing a suspicious vehicle in the area, described as a metallic-blue Dodge Shadow — possibly a 1993 model — with a black hood. Two people were seen in the vehicle. It is unknown if the driver represented in the sketch is a man or woman.

Anyone with information about the vehicle or the identity of its driver or with information about Baby Theresa is asked to contact the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office at 920-386-3726 or WeTip at 800-78-CRIME.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/450746

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Unidentified Female Infant

* The victim was discovered on April 29, 2009 in Theresa, Dodge County, Wisconsin.
* Estimated Date of Death: April 28, 2009.
* State of Remains: Unknown.
* Cause of Death: Unknown.

Vital Statistics

* Estimated Age: Newborn, less than 1 week old.
* Approximate Height and Weight: 20" and 8 lbs.
* Distinguishing Characteristics: Black hair and unknown eye color. Unknown race.
* Marks, scars: None noted.
* Clothing: Unknown.
* Dentals: Not available.
* DNA: Available.
* Fingerprints: Not available.

Case History
The full-term infant, dubbed Baby Theresa, was found in a garbage bag in the woods on Lone Road in Dodge County, Wisconsin,
on April 29, 2009. A metallic blue Dodge Shadow with a black hood, possibly a 1993 model, was seen in the area of the
baby’s recovery.

An image of the driver of the car described above can be seen at the Source Information link at the bottom of this page.


Investigators
If you have any information about this case please contact:
Investigating Agency:
Dodge County Sheriff's Office
Detective Vickie Brugger
1-920-386-3715
Email

You may remain anonymous when submitting information.

Agency Case Number: 09-1132

NCIC Number: U-220022665

http://doenetwork.org/hot/hotcase2188.html
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