Resolved NC - Whiteville, WhtFem UP102485, UnkAge, found in a plastic bag in landfill, brown hair, 11 January 1979 *id'd February 2026 - mother arrested*

[Romulus]

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP102485
Female, White/Caucasian
Date Body Found: January 11, 1979
Location Found: Whiteville, North Carolina
Estimated Age Range
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The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Circumstances of Recovery: Found in a plastic bag in landfill of Columbus County.

 

[Caring1]

I believe the below article may refer to this unidentified case. Cathy McKee (69) of Whitehall, NC was arrested in connection to this newborn baby girl found in a trash bag at the Columbus County landfill.

February 25, 2026

In 1979, the body of a newborn baby girl was found inside a trash bag at the landfill. Authorities responded and did an extensive investigation, but all leads were eventually exhausted and the case went cold.

CCSO said its Criminal Investigations Division, working with the NCSBI Coastal District and the NCSBI Cold Case Unit, arrested Cathy McKee, 69, from Whiteville, in connection with a 47-year-old case involving a newborn baby found at the Columbus County landfill.

McKee was initially held on a $20,000 bond; however, during her first court appearance, it was reduced to $5,000, which she has since posted. She also waived her right to counsel.

Whiteville woman arrested in 1979 cold case involving newborn found at landfill

A nearly five-decade cold case has been solved, according to the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office.

www.wect.com

 

[Melt71]

Identified by Othram

After 47 Years, Whiteville Baby Doe is Identified

Columbus County Sheriff's Office and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Team with Othram to Identify 1979 Baby Doe

dnasolves.com

"This investigation led to the positive identification of the child's mother, who is now known to be Cathy McKee. McKee, now 69, was recently arrested and charged with felony concealing the birth of a child. In 1979, McKee would have been about 22 years old."

 

[VanessaJoy]

Do we know anything about Cathy McKee’s Life? What was going on in her life 47 years ago? What did she do for a living? Is she married? Does she have other children?

 

[dotr]

Feb 26, 2026
After nearly 50 years, a cold case has been solved in Columbus County. A house in Whiteville sat barely illuminated on Wednesday evening, friends seen talking on the front porch earlier in the day, following the news that one of the homeowners, 69-year-old Cathy McKee, had been arrested.

 

[CuriousinNY]

Identified by Othram

After 47 Years, Whiteville Baby Doe is Identified

Columbus County Sheriff's Office and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Team with Othram to Identify 1979 Baby Doe

dnasolves.com

"This investigation led to the positive identification of the child's mother, who is now known to be Cathy McKee. McKee, now 69, was recently arrested and charged with felony concealing the birth of a child. In 1979, McKee would have been about 22 years old."

Cathy McKee was identified by First Genes. Otham just did the testing.