A 55-year-old woman from North Carolina has been arrested in connection with the death of a newborn girl found in a Southern California dumpster 37 years ago, according to the Riverside Police Department.
Melissa Jean Allen Avila, who was 19 at the time, was arrested in Shelby, North Carolina, and has been extradited to Riverside County. She was booked for first-degree murder on August 5, released on bail, and is scheduled for an arraignment on September 9, as reported by CNN.
Detectives do not believe the baby’s father was involved in the crime.
On October 13, 1987, a man searching for recyclables discovered the dead newborn in a dumpster behind a business, Riverside police said. The baby was believed to have been abandoned shortly after birth, and her death was ruled a homicide.
In 2020, Riverside cold case investigators, collaborating with the nonprofit Seasons of Justice and Othram Labs, used advanced DNA technology to solve the case. By 2021, scientists had developed a DNA profile for the baby, and forensic genetic genealogy helped identify potential relatives.
Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback explained, “In 2020, our police department had the staffing and resources to form a cold case homicide unit. We exhumed the baby’s body, extracted DNA, and used advanced technology and genealogy to confirm the mother’s identity.”
Othram, based in Houston, assists law enforcement agencies with solving cases using cutting-edge technology. Their work even inspired the 500th episode of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” in 2021.
Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez praised the efforts of investigators and partners: “Thanks to their persistent work, this victim now has an identity, bringing resolution to the case. We remain committed to seeking justice for homicide victims and helping their families find closure.”
Season of Justice helps solve cold cases by providing funds for DNA analysis and forensic genealogy.
California’s Safe Arms for Newborns law, enacted in 2001, allows parents to safely surrender a baby 3 days old or younger at a fire station or hospital emergency room.