Author Topic: BABY JOHN DOE: WM, Infant, found in Iowa City landfill - 21 December 1992  (Read 136 times)

Akoya

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8173
    • View Profile
In an early January 1993 public briefing, Winkelhake told reporters police were still puzzled about how the baby died and how he ended up in the landfill. Nor did they know who the mother was or where she might be.

Iowa City Landfill
The Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center takes in approximately 125,000 tons of trash each year. It is about 400 acres in size — around half of which contains buried trash.
(Courtesy photo City of Iowa City)

“Somebody knows exactly what happened,” Winkelhake said in a Cedar Rapids Gazette article published January 9, 1993. “We don’t know who that is at this point, but I think, for everybody’s sake, we would like to be able to resolve this matter. Everybody gets emotional with a child, and so everybody needs to know what happened out there.”

Winkelhake said the baby might have been born anywhere from five to seven days before he was found. Johnson County Medical Examiner T.T. Bozek had originally estimated a shorter time frame somewhere between a few minutes to 24 hours.

It is unknown if the newborn belonged to a local resident or whether he was dumped by someone just passing through.

Approximately 50 people attended “Baby John Doe’s” funeral. The infant was then laid to rest in Iowa City’s Oakland Cemetery.

Information Needed
If you have any information regarding this unsolved murder, please contact the Iowa City Police Department at 319-356-5275.

Sources:
Iowa City Police Department
“Cracking cold cases: Johnson County agencies consider forming a team to tackle unsolved murders,” by Zack Kucharski, The Cedar Rapids Gazette, December 12, 2006
“Cold Cases: Technology, tips help clear old homicides, but time takes toll on investigations,” by Christoph Trappe, The Cedar Rapids Gazette, September 21, 2003
“Baby remembered,” The Cedar Rapids Gazette, December 28, 1996
“Landfill baby case probe continuing: Investigators are interviewing area residents,” by Lyle Muller, The Cedar Rapids Gazette, January 9, 1993