MI - Woman charged in death of Baby Garnet found dead in outhouse in 1997, Mackinac County *arrest in 2022*

[Bishop Black]

Wyoming woman arrested in 1997 death of baby girl found dead in Michigan outhouse

A worker discovered Baby Garnet on June 26, 1997, while emptying a septic pit at the campground.

www.cbsnews.com

A Wyoming woman has been arrested and is awaiting extradition to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to face arraignment in the death 25 years ago of a baby found discarded in the waste pit of an outhouse, authorities said Wednesday.

Investigators traveled to Wyoming on Tuesday to interview the 58-year-old woman, who confirmed she was the child's mother, Mackinac County Sheriff Edward M. Wilk said in a statement.

The woman was not identified by authorities. "Additional information will be released after her arraignment," Wilk said.

The baby girl was found in the waste pit of a Garnet Lake campground outhouse in Hudson Township and was dubbed "Baby Garnet."

By working with a genealogist and investigating the submitted DNA, investigators were provided with family blood lines and the name of her likely birth mother, Wilk said.

A worker discovered Baby Garnet on June 26, 1997, while emptying a septic pit at the campground. An autopsy and forensics tests showed the infant had gestated for 38-40 weeks, or about full term.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

In the summer of 2017, investigators went back to the case. They ultimately turned to forensic genealogy — searching public DNA databases — to find relatives of Baby Garnet. They said a genealogist provided them with the mother’s name. They went to the state of Wyoming in July to talk to her and she admitted she was the mother of the child.

She was denied bond. She is scheduled in court again on Aug. 9.

Suspect identified, extradited to Michigan in ‘Baby Garnet’ cold case

The Mackinac County Sheriff’s Office says the suspect in the 1997 death of a baby in the Upper Peninsula has been brought back to the state to face charges.

www.woodtv.com

 

[NeverPersonal]

In the summer of 2017, investigators went back to the case. They ultimately turned to forensic genealogy — searching public DNA databases — to find relatives of Baby Garnet. They said a genealogist provided them with the mother’s name. They went to the state of Wyoming in July to talk to her and she admitted she was the mother of the child.

She was denied bond. She is scheduled in court again on Aug. 9.

Suspect identified, extradited to Michigan in ‘Baby Garnet’ cold case

The Mackinac County Sheriff’s Office says the suspect in the 1997 death of a baby in the Upper Peninsula has been brought back to the state to face charges.

www.woodtv.com

I wonder what her story is

 

[musicaljoke]

I wonder what her story is

She would have been 33 yrs old, so not a terribly young mother. Whatever happened, there is sadness in this story.

 

[alexwood]

"Investigators said Nancy Ann Gerwatowski, 58, confirmed to them that she is the child’s mother."

Mother charged with murder 25 years after ‘Baby Garnet’ found dead in Michigan outhouse

A Wyoming woman has been extradited to Michigan on murder charges 25 years after a baby was found dead in a Michigan outhouse.

www.clickondetroit.com

 

[UnDiluted7]

What a horrific story. How utterly heartbreaking.

Not that they'll make a difference to the outcome, but I'd love to know what was going on in her life and what she was thinking when abandoning the baby in that way seemed like the best option for her.

 

[alexwood]

"A genealogist traced the baby’s blood lines and found the name of the woman who was likely her mother, who had since moved from the Garnet area to Wyoming in the 25 years that had passed."
[. . .]
"[Mackinac County Sheriff Edward] Wilk also noted at the time that the girl’s father, siblings and other family members have been identified. He hopes the family will receive closure from knowing what happened to Baby Garnet." [BBM]

"[News outlet MLive] also reported that police at the time believed the girl was placed in the outhouse as early as June 1, 1997, and that her parents likely lived in the region."

Pinedale Woman To Be Extradited To Michigan For 25 Year Cold Case Involving Baby’s Death

A Pinedale woman will be back in Michigan next month to face charges in a 25-year-old cold case involving a baby's death, the Mackinac County, Michigan…

cowboystatedaily.com

 

[alexwood]

"Gerwatowski was seen in Sublette County Circuit Court for an initial appearance last week, and is scheduled to appear again for a status hearing on July 21. The Sublette Examiner reached out to Gerwatwoski’s attorney, public defender Rachel Weksler, who said that her client is unlikely to fight extradition back to Michigan, where the alleged crime was committed. When asked how Gerwatowski is handling being charged with a 25-year-old murder, Weksler said, 'This is a scary and devastating time' for her client."

"The Sublette Examiner uncovered a portion of an autopsy conducted on the child’s body in Grand Rapids, Michigan 25 years ago. Testing revealed the infant had gestated for at least 38 weeks and was near full-term, having been conceived in September 1996. The Mining Journal reported at the time that no umbilical cord was found. Although the woman is charged with murder, nothing in the public record indicates whether the child was stillborn or what caused her death." [BBM]

"Criminal charges are often dropped or reduced, and Gerwatwoski is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The Sublette Examiner and Pinedale Roundup will continue to provide updates in this developing story."

Pinedale woman charged in decades old murder of newborn

Although the woman is charged with murder, nothing in the public record indicates whether the child was stillborn or what caused her death.

subletteexaminer.com

 

[JerseyGirl]

Former U.P. woman to stand trial on charges she killed Baby Garnet in 1997

Nancy Ann Gerwatowski, whom authorities said admitted she was the mother of the baby girl, had her latest hearing in the Mackinac County 92nd District Court on Tuesday, Aug. 9.

mlive.com

 

[alexwood]

September 8, 2022 article, with podcast interview imbedded.

UNSOLVED: Cracking the Baby Garnet Case

We told you back in July how Mackinac County Deputies finally solved a 25 year old cold case using forensic genetic genealogy. The case of Baby Garnet is one that’s haunted investigators since 1997. “The guy that was cleaning out the outhouses used, obviously the suction and it got clogged and...

www.9and10news.com

 

[alexwood]

Presently, there is nothing being reported on this case. I assume (silly me), that there was a father of the child also involved in its conception. Where does he figure in all of this? Will he, too, be standing trial for the child's death?

 

[alexwood]

UNSOLVED: Cracking the Baby Garnet Case

We told you back in July how Mackinac County Deputies finally solved a 25 year old cold case using forensic genetic genealogy. The case of Baby Garnet is one that’s haunted investigators since 1997. “The guy that was cleaning out the outhouses used, obviously the suction and it got clogged and...

www.9and10news.com

"Investigators say they have identified Baby Garnet’s father using the same technology that help[ed] find her mother. He was unaware of the pregnancy and is considered a victim in this case."

 

[ifindedout]

From May 14

Woman to stand trial for 1997 death of "Baby Garnet" in Michigan

State prosecutors say Nancy Gerwatowski, 60, is accused of concealing her infant daughter's remains after she died from asphyxiation, which officials said was preventable.

www.cbsnews.com

(CBS DETROIT) - A woman will stand trial in the 1997 death of her newborn daughter in Michigan, the Attorney General's office announced on Tuesday.

Nancy Gerwatowski, 60, formerly of Newberry, is charged with one count of open murder, involuntary manslaughter and concealing the death of an individual.

The infant, known as "Baby Garnet," was found in June 1997 in an outhouse at the Garnet Lake Campground in Hudson Township.

https://www.michigan.gov/ag/news/pr...to-stand-trial-for-1997-murder-of-baby-garnet
LANSING – On Friday, May 10th, the Honorable Beth Ann Gibson of the 92nd District Court in St. Ignace issued an Opinion and Order binding over Nancy Gerwatowski, 60, formerly of Newberry, to stand trial for the cold-case murder of an infant discovered 27 years ago. Gerwatowski is charged with one count each of Open Murder, Involuntary Manslaughter, and Concealing the Death of an Individual. Open Murder is a potential life-sentence offense.

 

[Brightchaser47]

I too am wondering what actually happened and why, and will be following this case.

 

[dotr]

December 12, 2024

https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/12/us/baby-garnet-cold-case-michigan/index.html

“Your DNA was a match,” Jenna says the detective on the phone told her. She was related to the dead infant from 1997.
Jenna was in shock. The detective sounded sure, Jenna said, but she wondered how he had even obtained her DNA.
About six months earlier, her friend had gotten a FamilyTreeDNA test for Christmas and Jenna decided to order her own. DNA from other Baby Garnet relatives led detectives to Jenna’s FamilyTreeDNA kit, according to court documents.''

Jenna Gerwatowski, left, says the case was always a big mystery in her town. She had no idea the grandmother she'd never met, Nancy Gerwatoswki, right, could be behind it.
Jenna Rose Gerwatowski/Mackinac County Sheriff's Office

 

[alexwood]

December 12, 2024

https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/12/us/baby-garnet-cold-case-michigan/index.html

View attachment 551027

[SBM]
"Nancy is charged with one count each of open murder, involuntary manslaughter, and concealing the death of an individual. Open murder carries a potential life sentence. Her defense is hoping to get the case against Gerwatowski dropped in its entirety Thursday, arguing the “state cannot prove the fetus was born alive,” according to the court records filed by Nancy Gerwatowski’s defense lawyer."

 

[Brightchaser47]

UNSOLVED: Cracking the Baby Garnet Case

We told you back in July how Mackinac County Deputies finally solved a 25 year old cold case using forensic genetic genealogy. The case of Baby Garnet is one that’s haunted investigators since 1997. “The guy that was cleaning out the outhouses used, obviously the suction and it got clogged and...

www.9and10news.com

"Investigators say they have identified Baby Garnet’s father using the same technology that help[ed] find her mother. He was unaware of the pregnancy and is considered a victim in this case."

Not knowing yet exactly what happened, I think they may be giving him a pass a bit prematurely. jmo

 

[alexwood]

What Michigan court will decide in upcoming hearing related to trial of 1997 ‘Baby Garnet’ murder

[Article dated 21 Nov. 2024]
"According to court records, a hearing is scheduled to be held on Dec. 12, 2024, to decide if Gerwatowski‘s statement made to law enforcement, her abortion consideration and lack of prenatal healthcare can be used in the trial. The hearing will also decide whether or not to dismiss the concealing a death charge."

 

[musicaljoke]

Not knowing yet exactly what happened, I think they may be giving him a pass a bit prematurely. jmo

No kidding. As if not knowing is an excuse for not following up and not caring enough to ensure that any child that may have been conceived as a result of his actions, would be born into a safe and caring home.

 

[alexwood]

O.K. Here is my synopsis, so far.
Nancy Gerwatowski and her daughter, Kara, have been estranged since Kara was 18 years old. Kara is now 42 years old. Nancy Gerwatowski was separated from her husband at the time of her pregnancy. He claims to know nothing of the pregnancy. He is not Kara's father. Baby Garnet is Kara's half-sister. They share the same mother (Nancy Gerwatowski), but have different fathers.

Kara has a daughter, Jenna Gerwatowski, who has never met Nancy Gerwatowski -- her maternal Grandmother, due to her mother's estrangement from Nancy Gerwatowski.
[Let me interject here: I despise nose rings. So -- stone me!]

I believe that Nancy Gerwatowski was completely conscious at the time of Baby Garnet's birth. It is my opinion, after reading all of the articles available, that Nancy Gerwatowski was at the end of her rope. Is she guilty of murder? Probably. Can that be proven? No.
At most, she is responsible for concealing the death of Baby Garnet. If convicted, she can be sentenced to five years of incarceration, and/or pay a fine of $5,000.