NY NY- Albany, Washington Park, near the Moses statue, "Baby Moses" #2352UMNY, 7 Sep., '97, DNA- Arrest, mother, Keri S. Mazzuca, 2025.

[dotr]

After nearly 30 years, Baby Moses (1997) is Identified

Albany Police Department and the FBI Leverage Othram’s Genetic Testing Platform to Identify a 1997 Baby Doe

dnasolves.com

''On September 7, 1997, city workers found the body of a newborn wrapped in a charred cloth near the Moses statue in Albany, New York's Washington Park. The baby, later called “Baby Moses” by investigators, weighed 9 pounds and 3 ounces. It was determined that Baby Moses was been born alive and healthy. There were no signs of injury or natural health conditions that could have caused his death. Despite extensive investigative efforts, no leads surfaced, and the case went cold''.

''In 2020, the Albany Police Department partnered with the Cold Case Analysis Center at the College of Saint Rose to take a fresh look at the case. As DNA technology had significantly advanced since 1997, forensic specialists extracted a usable DNA profile from preserved evidence. In 2022, Othram was retained to develop a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown'' infant.''

''Following her arrest, authorities learned more about the events that took place 27 years earlier. Mazzuca admitted that she suffocated her newborn son shortly after birth and, in an effort to destroy evidence, attempted to burn the body before leaving him in Washington Park. The crime shocked the Albany community, and those who had worked the case over the years described it as one of the most haunting unsolved mysteries in the city’s history.''

''On February 13, 2025, Mazzuca pled guilty to first-degree manslaughter and tampering with physical evidence in Albany County Court. As part of the plea, she admitted to killing her newborn son and concealing his body. She now faces up to 25 years in state prison, with sentencing scheduled for April 18, 2025.'

''The identification of Baby Moses is the 11th publicly announced case in New York where investigators used technology developed by Othram to identify an individual. To learn about other cases in New York, visit DNASolves.''

2352UMNY

 

[dotr]

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/mother-baby-moses-plead-guilty-manslaughter-20163419.php

Keri S. Mazzuca appears with her former attorney Benjamin Hill last September for her arraignment on charges of second-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and concealment of a human corpse. Mazzuca pleaded guilty Thursday to manslaughter in connection with the 1997 death of her newborn baby, whose corpse was found in Washington Park.
Lori Van Buren/Times Union

 

[nhmemorymaker]

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/mother-baby-moses-plead-guilty-manslaughter-20163419.php

Just pointing out the uniqueness of this case. The article is long and detailed and shows the partnership between law enforcement and a local college who had established a "cold case program.
I know that Othram does have training programs in relationship to their work, and their efforts are expensive. Partnerships like this can really help provide a bridge between LE and organizations like Othram. Such great enthusiasm for the students, and a way to lessen the costs before going to Othram.

Through a partnership between the Albany Police Department and the Cold Case Analysis Center at the former College of Saint Rose, city detective Melissa Morey presented the case to the students, their professor and advisers. It was part of a cooperative arrangement in which the department made nearly all of its evidence and files available for the school to conduct research. (After the closure of Saint Rose in June, the state University at Albany announced in August that it would relaunch the center.)

Christina Lane, a criminal justice professor who co-founded the college’s Cold Case program and now runs a similar program at Russell Sage College

 

[sunflowermomma]

What a beautiful headstone. It provides a small amount of comfort that the community loved this baby.

 

[othram]

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/mother-baby-moses-plead-guilty-manslaughter-20163419.php

Just pointing out the uniqueness of this case. The article is long and detailed and shows the partnership between law enforcement and a local college who had established a "cold case program.
I know that Othram does have training programs in relationship to their work, and their efforts are expensive. Partnerships like this can really help provide a bridge between LE and organizations like Othram. Such great enthusiasm for the students, and a way to lessen the costs before going to Othram.

Through a partnership between the Albany Police Department and the Cold Case Analysis Center at the former College of Saint Rose, city detective Melissa Morey presented the case to the students, their professor and advisers. It was part of a cooperative arrangement in which the department made nearly all of its evidence and files available for the school to conduct research. (After the closure of Saint Rose in June, the state University at Albany announced in August that it would relaunch the center.)

Christina Lane, a criminal justice professor who co-founded the college’s Cold Case program and now runs a similar program at Russell Sage College

DNA testing is almost always the fastest and cheapest way to solve these cases.

 

[pokerowan]

Local news identifies her as being 52 when arrested last year. Mazzuca would have been 24/25 around the time of the murder.

Police: Arrest made in Albany's 'baby Moses' cold case

She was arraigned on Monday.

spectrumlocalnews.com

 

[dotr]

April 18, 2025

Mother sentenced in Albany's 'Baby Moses' cold case murder

There has been a resolution in a Capital Region cold case that lingered for decades. Kerri Mazzuca has been sentenced to 25 years for the murder of her son, who came to be known as “Baby Moses.”

www.wamc.org

''Mazzuca, of Altamont, pleaded guilty in 2024. Mazzuca, who was 25 at the time of the baby’s death, will also serve a concurrent sentence for tampering with evidence. She spoke during sentencing in Albany County Court.

"I'm sorry," Mazzuca said. "I did a horrible, unimaginable thing, and I live with remorse and regret. I am a great mom. I've lived a law-abiding life, and I do deserve a lengthy sentence. I just hope you use some discretion and go to the lower end."

Prosecutors said Mazzuca smothered the baby after she gave birth in her apartment. She says she was unaware that she was pregnant at the time. Mazzuca then wrapped the infant in a blue cloth and set him on fire.

Mazzuca and her defense attorney, Andrew Safranko, were asking for the judge to set a reduced sentence between 22 to 25 years.''