The Lost and the Found

Eastern States => Pennsylvania => Topic started by: Akoya on May 31, 2020, 11:18:16 am

Title: BABY AGNES DOE: WF, 0-12 months, found in Blair County, PA - 5 February 1987
Post by: Akoya on May 31, 2020, 11:18:16 am
(https://i.imgur.com/iFMiOxn.jpg)





It was a cold winter night on a Thursday in February, 1987 when a dog found the body of a baby abandoned near the backyard of a home near Kerbaugh Road, in Bellwood. The child had been stuffed into a plastic bag and was missing a notable portion of its body. The baby had been disposed into the woods, police theorized. An autopsy determined that the dead body was that of a white female infant.
Title: Re: BABY AGNES DOE: WF, 0-12 months, found in Blair County, PA - 5 February 1987
Post by: Akoya on May 31, 2020, 11:20:00 am
(https://i.imgur.com/LEAfCx9.jpg)
Title: Re: BABY AGNES DOE: WF, 0-12 months, found in Blair County, PA - 5 February 1987
Post by: Akoya on May 31, 2020, 11:23:01 am
(https://i.imgur.com/8uU6Y3J.jpg)
Title: Re: BABY AGNES DOE: WF, 0-12 months, found in Blair County, PA - 5 February 1987
Post by: Akoya on May 31, 2020, 11:24:47 am
(https://i.imgur.com/PKiF1yg.jpg)
Title: Re: BABY AGNES DOE: WF, 0-12 months, found in Blair County, PA - 5 February 1987
Post by: Akoya on May 31, 2020, 11:25:51 am
https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/16549/details

(https://i.imgur.com/4MGaSir.jpg)

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP 16549 Female, White / Caucasian

Date Found February 5, 1987
Location Found Pennsylvania
Estimated Age Range 0-12 Months

Case Information

Case Numbers
NCMEC Number--
Case Number 87-02

Demographics
Gender Female
Race / Ethnicity White / Caucasian
Estimated Age Group Infant
Estimated Age Range 0-12 Months
Estimated Year of Death 1987
Estimated PMI Weeks
Height Cannot Estimate
Weight 10 lbs, Estimated

Circumstances
Type Unidentified Deceased
Date Found February 5, 1987
NamUs Case Created April 19, 2017
Agency QA Reviewed--

Location Found Map
General Location--Pennsylvania
County Blair County
GPS Coordinates--
Circumstances of Recovery It was a cold winter night on a Thursday in February 1987 when a dog found the body of a baby abandoned near the backyard of a home near Kerbaugh Road in Bellwood. The child had been stuffed into a plastic bag and was missing a notable portion of its body. The baby had been disposed into the woods, police theorized. An autopsy determined that the dead body was that of a white female infant.

Details of Recovery
Inventory of Remains All parts recovered
Condition of Remains Not recognizable - Decomposing/putrefaction
Circumstance Notes
http://thebablueprint.com/3794/student-life/baby-agnes-doe-continues-to-inspire-respect-for-life/

The Regional Program Specialist contact for this case is Amy Dobbs
(865) 235-6523
Amy.Dobbs@unthsc.edu

Investigating Agencies

PA State Police


Case Contributors
Amy Dobbs, Regional Program Specialist
UNT Center for Human Identification
Title: Re: BABY AGNES DOE: WF, 0-12 months, found in Blair County, PA - 5 February 1987
Post by: Akoya on May 31, 2020, 11:27:22 am
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/949ufpa.html

Case File: 949UFPA

The Doe Network

(https://i.imgur.com/bIpZrDO.jpg)

Baby Agnes Doe's grave in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tyrone, Blair County


Unidentified Female

Date of Discovery: February 5, 1987
Location of Discovery: Antis-Bellwood, Blair County, Pennsylvania
Estimated Date of Death: Unknown
State of Remains: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown

Physical Description
** Listed information is approximate

Estimated Age: Infant
Race: White
Gender: Female
Height: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
Hair Color: Unknown
Eye Color: Unknown

Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown

Dentals: Not available.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Unknown
Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: None listed.

Jewelry: None listed.

Additional Personal Items: None listed.

Case History
Several months after her death, the Tyrone Knights of Columbus asked for and were given permission to give the child a proper burial. They chose the name Agnes for her, after the Roman Catholic Saint Agnes, who is considered the patron saint of little girls.

Baby Agnes was laid to rest in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Tyrone on June 20, 1987. An error in measuring for the plot was made and an unclaimed spot was found. The small area was developed into "The Home of the Holy Innocent", an area to accept Baby Agnes and other unwanted babies so that they wouldn't have to have a pauper's grave.

Each year since she was found, the Respect for Life March has been held, starting at St Matthew Church in Tyrone and ending 1.25 miles away at Baby Agnes' gravesite.

"I think possibly this little child accomplished more in the two days she lived than many will in a lifetime, for she affected so many people"....Father J. Joseph Strittmatter, June 20, 1987.

Twenty years after her discovery, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Charles Aungst renewed efforts to identify the baby girl, publicizing her case in the local media in the hopes that someone would come forward, but Baby Agnes Doe's identity still remains unknown.

Investigating Agency(s)
If you have any information about this case please contact;

Agency Name: Pennsylvania State Police - Troop G - Hollidaysburg
Agency Contact Person: Trooper Charles Aungst
Agency Phone Number: 814-696-6100

Agency Case Number: Unknown
NCIC Case Number: N/A
NamUs Case Number: Not listed
Former Hot Case Number: 993
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.

Information Source(s)
Pennsylvania Missing
Title: Re: BABY AGNES DOE: WF, 0-12 months, found in Blair County, PA - 5 February 1987
Post by: Akoya on May 31, 2020, 11:29:11 am
It was a cold winter night on a Thursday in February 1987 when a dog found the body of a baby abandoned near the backyard of a home near Kerbaugh Road in Bellwood.

(https://www.google.com/maps/vt/data=X8Ovo-3e8g2R6If3sI0u9QH7kUuT8SwZIKrXzyrNJkKAh3pIDfJOc0uiaOe_R9IdlHgWvZLlJ2EQayDIKLwAkqJYNzaRL0RBua8oTTmWDgtMBSw4W0aCzsyjzrhd7sju8_SRlSOHydPSrEAbs7zO62Ro4d638-w76LpqynDMIxVo8uJp_SdDLypZS1y3S_l9VYfUCKqaQ4iXglECbhZ5Ky8Auo-Kk7DzUJB_QwSh79m3x0k3jpLji93R9xTUoVvCoM5snBKSHmxtj8oyXdJrYeEYmAZsEz40xA)

Kerbaugh Rd
Bellwood, PA
Title: Re: BABY AGNES DOE: WF, 0-12 months, found in Blair County, PA - 5 February 1987
Post by: Akoya on May 31, 2020, 11:30:43 am
Kerbaugh Rd, Tyrone, PA 16686

(https://i.imgur.com/YfMGw2P.jpg)
Title: Re: BABY AGNES DOE: WF, 0-12 months, found in Blair County, PA - 5 February 1987
Post by: Akoya on May 31, 2020, 11:36:43 am
http://pennsylvaniamissing.com/babyagnesantisbellwood.html

Pennsylvania Missing Persons
and Unidentified Victims


(https://theunidentified.createaforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpennsylvaniamissing.com%2Fimages%2F76_baby_silouette.jpg&hash=e5530f703b70e7496b5cd31be8836293f60ba3cb)

Baby Agnes Doe
Unidentified White Female Newborn
Found February 5, 1987 in Antis-Bellwood, Blair County

Case Details


On Thursday, February 5, 1987, the partial remains of an infant baby girl were found in the yard of a home on Kerbaugh Road in Antis Township. The child had been stuffed into a plastic bag.

Police theorize that the infant had been disposed of in the nearby woods where a dog had found her. When the baby was discovered, a significant portion of her tiny body was gone. While gender was not readily apparent, an autopsy determined that the remains were those of a white female infant. Despite extensive testing, her exact cause of death was not determined, but it is believe she lived for about two days.

Several months after her death, the Tyrone Knights of Columbus asked for and were given permission to give the child a proper burial. They chose the name Agnes for her, after the Roman Catholic Saint Agnes, who is considered the patron saint of little girls.

Baby Agnes was laid to rest in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Tyrone on June 20, 1987. An error in measuring for the plot was made and an unclaimed spot was found. The small area was developed into "The Home of the Holy Innocent", an area to accept Baby Agnes and other unwanted babies so that they wouldn't have to have a pauper's grave.

Each year since she was found, the Respect for Life March has been held, starting at St Matthew Church in Tyrone and ending 1.25 miles away at Baby Agnes' gravesite.

"I think possibly this little child accomplished more in the two days she lived than many will in a lifetime, for she affected so many people"....Father J. Joseph Strittmatter, June 20, 1987.

Twenty years after her discovery, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Charles Aungst renewed efforts to identify the baby girl, publicizing her case in the local media in the hopes that someone would come forward, but Baby Agnes Doe's identity still remains unknown.

(https://theunidentified.createaforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpennsylvaniamissing.com%2Fimages%2F350_Baby_Agnes_Doe_Feb_1987.jpg&hash=0202cf4fc649df4cc3b0fa712d6437a3880d8b4b)
Baby Agnes Doe's grave in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tyrone, Blair County

If you have any information about this case, please contact:

Pennsylvania State Police
Troop G - Hollidaysburg
Tpr Charles Aungst
814-696-6100

Sources
Pennsylvania State Police
Tyrone Daily Herald
Altoona Mirror
NewspaperArchive.com
Title: Re: BABY AGNES DOE: WF, 0-12 months, found in Blair County, PA - 5 February 1987
Post by: Akoya on May 31, 2020, 11:38:49 am
http://www.altoonamirror.com/news/local-news/2017/01/pro-life-activists-remember-baby-agnes/

Pro-life activists remember Baby Agnes
Hundreds turn out in Tyrone for 30th Respect Life March


LOCAL NEWS
JAN 16, 2017

(https://i.imgur.com/23ckANT.jpg)
Mirror photo by Russ O’Reilly Hundreds turned out for the 30th annual Respect Life March on Sunday, which featured a prayer service at St. Matthew’s Church in Tyrone and about a mile walk to the grave of Baby Agnes Doe at the Oak Grove Cemetery.

TYRONE — Remembering the shocking discovery of decomposed human baby remains outside of Bellwood by a dog in 1987, about a few hundred people gathered Sunday for a march to the cemetery where the unidentified body is properly buried.

The 30th annual Respect Life March was held at noon Sunday with a prayer service at St. Matthew’s Church in Tyrone and about a mile walk to the grave of Baby Agnes Doe at the Oak Grove Cemetery.

The march is sponsored by the The St. Gregory Council 1218 Knights of Columbus, where Peter Kreckel is the pro-life director.

“Outside of Bellwood, the remains of a child were found back in 1987, and her decomposed body was drug into a yard by a dog. What happened was, this family member found it and called the police. They’ve done coroner inquests, they’ve done all types of investigations, and they’ve never been able to elucidate who this child belongs to,” Kreckel said.

“In June of 1987, the Knights of Columbus of St. Gregory’s Council in Tyrone gave a really nice funeralMass, as well as a dedication in Oak Grove Cemetery to this baby.”

Anti-abortion and pro-abortion rights activists both claim to be on mercy’s side in cases of unexpected pregnancies.

The marchers on Sunday prayed for widespread adoption of a worldview that is generous to life at conception through old age as well as scientific and social change to eliminate reasons that lead to abortions.

“We’re not making it our job to change laws, but we can change how people feel about it and change hearts,” said Bill Stadtmiller of Altoona.

Stadtmiller said the march in the small borough was a quiet statement about the importance of protecting life. He and his three children, ages 4, 8 and 10 years old, walked the route to the cemetery while his mother-in-law, Mary Engelman, 79, rode to the cemetery in one of the several cars participating in the march.

A handful of lawmakers attended the march.

Wearing jeans and casual winter coats, Sen. John H. Eichelberger Jr., R-Blair, Rep. Judy Ward and Rep. John McGinnis mixed in with the marchers. Eichelberger is the chairman of the pro-life caucus in the state senate.

He is the prime sponsor of a bill that was introduced last week, the “Conscientious Objection Act,” which aims to protect health care providers and institutions who decline to counsel or perform health care services that violate their consciences.

The decision to have an abortion is typically motivated by multiple reasons, according to a study for the Guttmacher Institute. The themes of responsibility to others and resource limitations, such as financial constraints and lack of partner support were recurrent reasons given in the study.

Complications with the health of a fetus is widely accepted as a valid reason for an abortion.

“Turn around and look at the boy right behind you,” Mike Isola of Bellwood said to a reporter framing the question. “He wouldn’t be here if his parents thought that.”

Walking a few feet behind Isola was Aaron Bucher, a polite and happy teenager with Down syndrome who Isola said will be confirmed in the Catholic church this year.

His mother, Angela Bucher, of Bellwood said she didn’t have the prenatal tests done to know for sure whether Aaron would be born with Down syndrome, but her blood work suggested it could be likely.

“I never thought his life was a mistake or a problem or a hindrance. I always felt I was given this life to respect,” she said.
Title: Re: BABY AGNES DOE: WF, 0-12 months, found in Blair County, PA - 5 February 1987
Post by: Akoya on May 31, 2020, 11:41:53 am
https://thebablueprint.com/3794/student-life/baby-agnes-doe-continues-to-inspire-respect-for-life/

Baby Agnes Doe continues to inspire respect for life

Annual march to her shrine slated for Sunday

Myranda Mamat, Staff Writer • January 16, 2015

The shrine to Baby Agnes Doe still stands today in Oak Grove Cemetery in Tyrone.

It was a cold winter night on a Thursday in February 1987 when a dog found the body of a baby abandoned near the backyard of a home near Kerbaugh Road in Bellwood. The child had been stuffed into a plastic bag and was missing a notable portion of its body.

The baby had been disposed into the woods, police theorized. An autopsy determined that the dead body was that of a white female infant.

It was the kind of thing that rocks a small community.

“I was reading a magazine about finding a baby that had been abandoned and then days later I heard about it reading the (Tyrone Daily) Herald,” said Knights of Columbus member Pete Kreckel, who became a driving force in claiming the baby’s body.

The St. Gregory Council of the Knights of Columbus in Tyrone, which serves St. Matthew’s Parish, asked for permission to give the infant a proper burial several months later. The Council had chosen the name Agnes for the baby after St. Agnes, who among other things is the patron saint of young girls.


It was a really big story in the news at the time. I remember how sad it was that this little baby was dead and that her parents just dumped her somewhere.”

— Nick Lovrich, B-A Health and Phys. Ed teacher

Baby Agnes Doe was given a funeral and laid to rest in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Tyrone on June 20th, 1987.

“The remains were never identified so in June of 1987 we had a Mass for her. The priest that said the Mass at her funeral was Father Joseph Strittmatter, and he said ‘If all of us can accomplish in our life time what Baby Agnes did in two days of her life time …’” recalled Kreckel. “I carried her coffin up the steps of St. Matthews Church. We were like Joseph of Arimathea.”

Bellwood-Antis health and physical education teacher Nick Lovrich, who was in eighth grade at the time, was an altar server at the funeral.

“The Knights of Columbus from St. Matthew’s kind of adopted her and took care of the funeral service and burial since there was no known relatives,” recalled Mr. Lovrich. “It was a really big story in the news at the time. I remember how sad it was that this little baby was dead and that her parents just dumped her somewhere.”

The Knights found a spot for her in the cemetery where an error had been when measuring another spot, making it just perfect for her. The spot now has developed into “The Home of the Holy Innocent,” which is an area for Baby Agnes and other unwanted babies to have a proper grave.

The site was renovated by Jonathan Hampton in 2006 as part of an Eagle Scout project and it now includes a memorial statue and benches.

(https://i.imgur.com/BMNhYmb.jpg)
The shrine, called the Home of the Holy Innocents, was renovated in 2006. (Emily Wagner)

The St Gregory Council dedicated the Respect Life Meditation area in 1991 to Baby Agnes. They also used Agnes as the focal point for the yearly Respect Life March, a 1.25 miles walk from St. Matthew’s Church to Baby Agnes’ gravestone, which publicly expresses the respect for life in all stages.

The march will take place once again this Sunday beginning at noon, and many Bellwood-Antis students from St. Joseph’s Parish are attending.

Mr. Kerry Naylor, an English teacher and BluePrint advisor at B-A, was a part of the first march along with Mr. Lovrich.

“There were many adults from St. Matthew’s and the community there, but what I remember most is how many young people were there,” he said. “It felt like you were really a part of something, and we were. We were all united in saying we need to have respect for human life and dignity.”

Twenty years after Baby Agnes’s discovery, the Pennsylvania State Police renewed the efforts to identify Baby Agnes and had it publicized in the local media in hopes that someone would come forward, but the identity of Baby Agnes is still unknown.

Lovrich said his experience with Baby Agnes still affect him today.

(https://i.imgur.com/YmvGJ1e.jpg)
The memorial shrine for Baby Agnes Doe at Oak Grove Cemetery is the destination of this Sunday’s Respect for Life March. (Emily Wagner)

“Being a parent now I do not know how anyone could do that to their child,” he said. “Your job as a parent is to love, care and nurture your child, not leave it for dead somewhere. It is very special that the K of C still honors her very short life. It should make people realize how lucky they are to have their life and make their own choices. Baby Agnes did not have a chance to make her own choices, someone else did it for her.”
Title: Re: BABY AGNES DOE: WF, 0-12 months, found in Blair County, PA - 5 February 1987
Post by: Akoya on May 31, 2020, 11:42:42 am
(https://www.google.com/maps/vt/data=tDtAjdS5VUEOWBT8Qqm1Y3ZW-omuORGV7BF6mOalm4xBE4VlKjcqOHDvF68ZWYH5GktYMlZUPgucZynDioBTdmO_78oB0PmwJKNRSPm67h8WgQmeFvje_i4NyEdAkcMpzQrOTAITzKCDwRNYo-XW_LLJF-rjsVIQK7kXWl31b5x6Mj5HPnpwFEMjNkt-CbLTgEfbUPlKwrOIlKPfX5KwY8eLevyJMf7umdmXaNEngMqUXJsbk6uzkrh5YrZD0lnW4pRFd0bX-egbe4uf3Ba7XUMt37vC6Yc9wPk62o6ybKTyrts)
Title: Re: BABY AGNES DOE: WF, 0-12 months, found in Blair County, PA - 5 February 1987
Post by: Akoya on May 31, 2020, 11:44:00 am
(https://i.imgur.com/dZcDbn1.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/6iTVbqD.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/BEEZpWb.jpg)
Title: Re: BABY AGNES DOE: WF, 0-12 months, found in Blair County, PA - 5 February 1987
Post by: Akoya on May 31, 2020, 11:45:05 am
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