The Lost and the Found

Infant's skull was struck and then thrown into Des Moines River. Body was cremated.

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/2458umia.html

2458UMIA - Unidentified Male



Date of Discovery: December 12, 1953
Location of Discovery: Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
Estimated Date of Death: 1953
State of Remains: Not recognizable - Charred/burned
Cause of Death: Unknown

Physical Description
Estimated Age: Infant
Race: White
Gender: Male
Height: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
Hair Color: Unknown
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown

Identifiers
Dentals: Not available.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Not available.

Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: Unknown
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
Circumstances of Discovery
An infant's skull was found in the Des Moines River. The case files states that the "child's skull struck and then thrown into Des Moines River."

Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: Polk County Medical Examiner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Megan Rausch
Agency Phone Number: 515-286-2102
Agency Case Number: 10-77-1397

NCIC Case Number: N/A
NamUs Case Number: UP #10855

Information Source(s)
NamUs
Admin Notes
Added:1/3/15; Last Updated:7/14/2019

https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/1953-unidentified-white-male-infant/

Baby Feet Unidentified White Male Infant



Homicide
Baby John Doe
Unidentified male Infant
ME/C Case Number: 10-1397
NamUs UP # 10855
Found in Des Moines River
Des Moines, Iowa
Polk County
Investigating Agency: Polk County Medical Examiner’s Office
December 12, 1953


Polk County in Iowa
Polk County in Iowa

Des Moines in Polk CountyDes Moines in Polk County
On Saturday, December 12, 1953, officials recovered a white male infant from the Des Moines River in Polk County, Iowa. The newborn had been struck in the skull and burned before being tossed into the river.

The infant’s charred body was burned beyond recognition, and investigators could determine neither the child’s exact weight nor height, but did identify a skull fracture in the baby’s head.

Detectives believe the infant was likely killed sometime on or around Dec. 12, 1953.

The baby wore no clothing, and the Polk County Medical Examiner’s Office took over the case in attempts to identify the newborn’s body.

No DNA or dental charting is available in this case.

Information Needed
If you have any information about this unidentified infant please contact the Polk County Medical Examiner’s Office at (515) 286-2102 or NamUs Regional Administrator Melissa Gregory at (855) 626-7600.

Sources:
Polk County Sheriff’s Office
NamUs Unidentified Person #UP10855
Polk County Medical Examiner’s office