The Lost and the Found

On February 15, 1993 the body of a newborn boy was found at Kutztown University. The child had apparently been born only hours before his discovery. He had been cleaned, put into a plastic bag and placed in a trash container in the first floor ladies room in Old Main at the University.

On April 24, 1993, the boy was buried at the Fairview Cemetery, only blocks from the university where he had been found. His outfit, the little white coffin, the plot and headstone had all been donated.

His headstone reads, "Infant Boy, born and died February 1993, in God's love."

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1907umpa.html

Case File: 1907UMPA
The Doe Network



Unidentified Male
Date of Discovery: February 15, 1993
Location of Discovery: Kutztown, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Estimated Date of Death: Hours prior to discovery
State of Remains: Recognizable face
Cause of Death: Likely stillborn

Physical Description
** Listed information is approximate

Estimated Age: Newborn
Race: White
Gender: Male
Height: 19.5"
Weight: 8 lbs. 4 oz.
Hair Color: Red or auburn
Eye Color: Unknown

Distinguishing Marks/Features: Umbilical cord still attached.

Dentals: Not available.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Not available.
Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: Unknown

Jewelry: Unknown

Additional Personal Items: Unknown

Case History
On February 15, 1993 the body of a newborn boy was found at Kutztown University. The child had apparently been born only hours before his discovery. He had been cleaned, put into a plastic bag and placed in a trash container in the first floor ladies room in Old Main at the University.

On April 24, 1993, the boy was buried at the Fairview Cemetery, only blocks from the university where he had been found. His outfit, the little white coffin, the plot and headstone had all been donated.

His headstone reads, "Infant Boy, born and died February 1993, in God's love."

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

Agency Name: Berks County Coroner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Joel Bonilla
Agency Phone Number: 610-478-3280

Agency Case Number: 93-026
NCIC Case Number: U653658286
NamUs Case Number: UP #1011
Former Hot Case Number: 1525
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.

Information Source(s)
NamUs
Pennsylvania Missing

http://articles.mcall.com/1993-04-24/news/2921702_1_infant-s-mother-baby-buried

Kutztown Buries Baby Found Dead In Trash Can
Mother Still Not Known

April 24, 1993|by ANN WLAZELEK, The Morning Call
A baby boy was buried without a name in Kutztown yesterday, two months and one week after the newborn's body was found in the trash can of a Kutztown University bathroom.

The child's little white casket was smaller than most toy chests, and had to be donated along with his outfit and plot.

A stone marker read: "Infant boy, born and died February 1993, in God's love."

About 30 people from the university, borough and news media attended the grave-side service at Fairview Cemetery, just blocks from the university. But there was no sign, authorities said, of the infant's mother.

"We have absolutely no way of knowing the circumstances, feelings and emotions of the woman who gave birth to this tiny baby," said Charlene Miller, a Lutheran minister and mother of three who conducted the service.

A vicar at the university, Miller said she had conducted funeral services for children who had died at birth or at an early age, but never for a child without family.

The thought of the baby being buried without its family is what brought Kutztown students Kristen Zimmerman, Sheri Moyle and Rebecca Hoffmaster to the cemetery, they said, during a cold and blowing April rain.

"Whenever there's a death or a wedding in my family, lots of people show up," Hoffmaster said, disappointed that more students didn't attend the service after it had been widely reported.

The three sang an original lullaby and blew bubbles over the baby's grave.

"I think he deserved a lullaby," said Zimmerman, who said she wrote it on a napkin in a diner the night before.

The unusual circumstances surrounding the baby's death and lack of information about his parents also brought Berks County Coroner William Fatora and two state troopers to the funeral.

All that is known about the child, Fatora has said, is that he apparently died just before birth because his mother had a severe uterine infection that caused his lungs to fill with fluid.

A custodian found the baby Feb. 15 in a waste container at Old Main, a university building used for offices, classrooms and dorms. The newborn's umbilical cord was still attached.

At the funeral service, Fatora noticed a lot of students were watching from dormitories behind the cemetery. He also mentioned a single pink rose, tied with a blue-and-white-checked ribbon, on top of the casket had been dropped off at Ludwick Funeral Home the day before the service by an unidentified young woman.

Yet the investigators said there had been no leads in the case in weeks.

"It would have been wishful thinking that the mother would show up," Fatora said after the service.

Kutztown police and state police have pursued every lead, but to no avail, according to Fatora.

He said the mother could be a student, employee or faculty member at Kutztown, or have no affiliation with the school. Investigators have even checked into people who made contributions on behalf of the baby.

Besides the Ludwick Funeral Home, which donated the casket, the Edward Hildenbrand Funeral Home donated the plot and Miller provided a burial outfit and her services for the funeral. Contributions also were being collected to cover the cost of the headstone.

The child's burial was delayed because of the autopsy, toxicology tests, snow storms and the recent Easter and Passover holidays, Fatora said.

He also hoped that if he waited long enough, the mother might come forward.

"I admit I didn't want to put the little guy to rest as `infant boy' or `baby doe'," Fatora said.

Early on, investigators said the mother could face criminal charges of neglect while carrying the child or of abuse of a corpse, but yesterday Fatora said sympathetically, "she could have been under duress."

http://pennsylvaniamissing.com/babyland.html

Kutztown Baby Doe
2/15/1993 Kutztown, Berks County


http://pennsylvaniamissing.com/babydoekutztownuniv.html

Kutztown Baby Doe
2/15/1993 Kutztown, Berks County


http://pennsylvaniamissing.com/babydoekutztownuniv.html

Pennsylvania Missing Persons
and Unidentified Victims



Kutztown Baby Doe
Unidentified White Male Newborn
Found February 15, 1993 in Kutztown, Berks County

Case Details
On February 15, 1993 the body of a newborn boy was found at Kutztown University. The child had apparently been born only hours before his discovery. He had been cleaned, put into a plastic bag and placed in a trash container in the first floor ladies room in Old Main at the University.

He weighed 8 lbs, 4 oz and his umbilical cord was still attached. He was likely stillborn.

On April 24, 1993, the boy was buried at the Fairview Cemetery, only blocks from the university where he had been found. His outfit, the little white coffin, the plot and headstone had all been donated.

His headstone reads, "Infant Boy, born and died February 1993, in God's love".

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

Berks County Coroner's Office
610-478-3280

or
the Crime Tip Line
1-877-373-9913
or email: alertberks@aol.com

or
email Years of Tears at:
tips@yearsoftears.org

Sources
The Reading Eagle
Years of Tears
The Morning Call