The mysterious circumstances of a dead baby girl discovered nearly 30 years ago east of Lisbon began to unravel Saturday when state investigators announced they finally have identified the baby’s parents, but appealed to the public for help in unsorting the baffling case.
The newborn was found by a farmer Nov. 10, 1996, in a barn at 14 Highway 30, about a mile east of Lisbon. At the time, The Gazette reported that the full-term Caucasian baby's body, wrapped in a plastic shopping bag and placed inside a garbage bag, was discovered about 10 a.m. by Clair Wilson, who lived on the farm at the time with his son, Tim; Tim's wife, Debbie; and their son, Luke, then 15.
The body was left inside a barn used for machinery storage. Preliminary autopsy results showed the girl was alive when she was born. Later, the state medical examiner reported the cause of her death was “probable exposure” and the manner of death to be “undetermined.”
Investigators were never able to determine the baby’s name, and she was called “Baby Jane Lincoln” as a nod to the historic name of the highway that passed by the farm. The newborn was buried near Tipton after a reverend volunteered to perform the rites and the sheriff took up a collection for a headstone.
About 30 people attended, and many told a reporter they had come to show appreciation for their own kids.
The Rev. Frank Heubner, who was pastor of Cedar Street Baptist Church in Tipton, performed the service on the blustery day. “I wanted to reassure those at the cemetery of God's love, to let them know there is a God in heaven who loves us," Heubner said at the time. He told the mourners that "even if we understood all the circumstances surrounding Baby Jane's death … it would not be enough to satisfy our hearts.”
Saturday, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said in a news release that, thanks to advances in DNA, they now had identified the parents of the baby as Luke Dean Wilson and Samantha Light Hope, both 43.
The DCI did not say if investigators had talked with the parents about the case, say where they are located, or specify whether they had any connection to the family or farm where the body was found. Rather, the DCI said that “no further information will be released at this time.”
“The circumstances surrounding the death of Baby Jane remain under investigation and the public is encouraged to contact the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office should they possess any information that may assist in the investigation,” the DCI said in its news release.
www.thegazette.com
The newborn was found by a farmer Nov. 10, 1996, in a barn at 14 Highway 30, about a mile east of Lisbon. At the time, The Gazette reported that the full-term Caucasian baby's body, wrapped in a plastic shopping bag and placed inside a garbage bag, was discovered about 10 a.m. by Clair Wilson, who lived on the farm at the time with his son, Tim; Tim's wife, Debbie; and their son, Luke, then 15.
The body was left inside a barn used for machinery storage. Preliminary autopsy results showed the girl was alive when she was born. Later, the state medical examiner reported the cause of her death was “probable exposure” and the manner of death to be “undetermined.”
Investigators were never able to determine the baby’s name, and she was called “Baby Jane Lincoln” as a nod to the historic name of the highway that passed by the farm. The newborn was buried near Tipton after a reverend volunteered to perform the rites and the sheriff took up a collection for a headstone.
About 30 people attended, and many told a reporter they had come to show appreciation for their own kids.
The Rev. Frank Heubner, who was pastor of Cedar Street Baptist Church in Tipton, performed the service on the blustery day. “I wanted to reassure those at the cemetery of God's love, to let them know there is a God in heaven who loves us," Heubner said at the time. He told the mourners that "even if we understood all the circumstances surrounding Baby Jane's death … it would not be enough to satisfy our hearts.”
Saturday, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said in a news release that, thanks to advances in DNA, they now had identified the parents of the baby as Luke Dean Wilson and Samantha Light Hope, both 43.
The DCI did not say if investigators had talked with the parents about the case, say where they are located, or specify whether they had any connection to the family or farm where the body was found. Rather, the DCI said that “no further information will be released at this time.”
“The circumstances surrounding the death of Baby Jane remain under investigation and the public is encouraged to contact the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office should they possess any information that may assist in the investigation,” the DCI said in its news release.
DNA reveals parents of baby found dead 27 years ago near Lisbon
Iowa investigators did not say if they’ve talked to them about the case.
www.thegazette.com
