GUILTY SD - Sioux Falls, WhtMale, UP17189, Newborn, born alive, Feb'81 *ARREST in 2019* - Baby Andrew

[PommyMommy]

Ah - got an alert for an article for this case!

Theresa Bentaas trial for ‘Baby Andrew’ postponed for 3rd time

April 9, 2021

The trial for a South Dakota woman charged with the murder of her newborn 40 years ago has been postponed again, according to the Minnehaha County clerk of courts.

Theresa Bentaas was scheduled for trial Monday in Minnehaha County court in Sioux Falls. Randy Sample with the Minnehaha County State’s Attorney's office said that both sides were in agreement for a reset and that a new date has not yet been scheduled.
[.....]
This is the third delay in the trial since she was formally charged in March 2019. Bentaas' attorneys also filed a motion to delay the trial in November, citing the continuous rise is COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

The first delay was in September 2019, when parties said they were having trouble finding times when all the witnesses were available.

There is a brief summary of the case in the article.

Anyone find any other articles - maybe locally - maybe they have a next court date in it.

There was an AP article yesterday but it just refers back to the Argus Leader (your link).

APR 10, 2021
Woman's trial in baby's death 40 years ago delayed again (apnews.com)
Theresa Bentaas’ trial was supposed to start Monday in Minnehaha County court. But the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reported Friday that the trial has now been delayed indefinitely. Randy Sample of the Minnehaha County State’s Attorney’s Office said both sides agreed to a postponement and a new start date hasn’t been set.

 

[Niner]

Just to keep this case up to date - I'll go ahead & post this.

Monday, April 12th:
*Trial set to begin-CONTINUED! (@ am CT) – SD – Baby Andrew John Doe (Litz) (newborn, found Feb. 28, 1981, Sioux Falls, lying in a icy ditch) - *Theresa Rose Bentaas (19 @ time of crime/57/now 59) arrested (3/8/19), charged (3/11/19) & arraigned (3/11/19) with 1st degree murder, 2nd degree murder & 1st degree manslaughter. Plead not guilty. $250K Cash only bond changed (4/30/19) to $250K cash or Surety bond. Out on bond w/GPS ankle monitor.
Parabon NanoLabs GEDMatch
Trial was set to begin on 11/30/20 as all jury trial suspended due to COVID until after 1/25/21 & was rescheduled for 4/12/21 & cancelled again.
Court info from 5/20/19 thru 7/21/20 reference post #97 here:
Found Deceased - SD - Sioux Falls, WhtMale, UP17189, Newborn, born alive, Feb'81 *ARREST in 2019* - Baby Andrew
11/6/20 Update: Defense asked for delay in trial scheduled on 11/30/20, cited the continuous increase in COVID-19 cases & hospitalizations in the region as the main reason for requesting a continuance. 11/28/20: All jury trials have been suspended in Sioux Falls because of COVID until after 1/25/21.
4/10/21 Update: Trial is set to begin on 4/12/21 has been cancelled due to COVID. Bentaas was scheduled for trial Monday in Minnehaha County court in Sioux Falls. Randy Sample with the Minnehaha County State’s Attorney's office said that both sides were in agreement for a reset & that a new date has not yet been scheduled.

 

[Niner]

@PommyMommy - any news on next court date or trial date on this? I'm just getting very old articles when I search.

TIA!

 

[PommyMommy]

@PommyMommy - any news on next court date or trial date on this? I'm just getting very old articles when I search.

TIA!

There are a number of articles from Apr 9 - 11 but all of them say the trial has been delayed indefinitely or that no new date has been set. I can't find anything more recent than that. Sorry, Niner!

 

[Niner]

There are a number of articles from Apr 9 - 11 but all of them say the trial has been delayed indefinitely or that no new date has been set. I can't find anything more recent than that. Sorry, Niner!

Thanks for checking it out!

 

[Niner]

@PommyMommy - just wondering if there might be an update on next court hearing on this case yet?

TIA!

 

[PommyMommy]

@PommyMommy - just wondering if there might be an update on next court hearing on this case yet?

TIA!

Unfortunately, I can't find anything new. The most recent article I can find is from April 13:

Sioux Falls woman’s trial in baby’s death 40 years ago delayed again | SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports
Randy Sample with the Minnehaha County State’s Attorney’s Office said both sides agreed to a postponement and a new start date hasn’t been set.

#JusticeforBabyAndrew

 

[Niner]

Thank you @PommyMommy - that is more than I could find over here!

 

[Niner]

@PommyMommy - sorry to bother you - but it has been a couple of weeks & was wondering if there might be an update on a court hearing date yet?

 

[PommyMommy]

@PommyMommy - sorry to bother you - but it has been a couple of weeks & was wondering if there might be an update on a court hearing date yet?

Sorry for the late reply, Niner. I can find nothing whatsoever in the way of news here. MOO

 

[Niner]

Sorry for the late reply, Niner. I can find nothing whatsoever in the way of news here. MOO

Thanks for checking!

 

[Niner]

@PommyMommy - just going thru my "oldies" and wonder if there might be any news on a court date?

TIA!

 

[PommyMommy]

@PommyMommy - just going thru my "oldies" and wonder if there might be any news on a court date?

TIA!

Unfortunately not. I can't find anything.

 

[Niner]

Unfortunately not. I can't find anything.

Thank you for taking the time to look!

 

[Niner]

@PommyMommy - another - wondering if there might be an update for Baby Andrew's case?

TIA!

 

[PommyMommy]

@PommyMommy - another - wondering if there might be an update for Baby Andrew's case?

TIA!

I can't access the court site but I found this article from a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately, there is no information on TB's next court date.

JUN 21, 2021
Technology leads to breakthrough in decades-old death of Sioux Falls newborn | KELOLAND.com
[...]

On February 28th, 1981, Sioux Falls police began an investigation that would continue for decades.

[...]

The case went cold.

In 2019, police enlisted the help of a Virginia lab as well as genealogy websites like Ancestry.com to piece together branches of baby Andrew’s family tree. “We were able to continue to build that family tree through old birth announcements, old marriage announcements and things like that,” Det. Mike Webb said at the time.

Those clues led them to Theresa Bentaas, a Sioux Falls woman who lived less than a mile from the spot where Baby Andrew was found. ...

[...]

Now, four decades later, attorneys are preparing for a trial.

 

[Niner]

Thanks for checking it out @PommyMommy !

 

[Niner]

Bumping up for you again @PommyMommy - "maybe" something new??

TIA!

 

[PommyMommy]

Bumping up for you again @PommyMommy - "maybe" something new??

TIA!

Nothing yet.

 

[PommyMommy]

Here you go, @Niner.

JUL 27, 2021
KOTG: Change in 1981 Baby Andrew murder case; missing Dell Rapids woman; Gov. Noem visits border | KELOLAND.com
More than four decades after the crime, a South Dakota cold case could soon come to a close. Theresa Bentaas is scheduled to change her plea on October 8. The Sioux Falls woman is charged with murder and manslaughter in the death of a newborn baby, known as Baby Andrew.

'Baby Andrew' cold case: Theresa Bentaas plea change hearing scheduled (argusleader.com)
[...]

Theresa Bentaas, 59, of Sioux Falls, is scheduled for a change of plea hearing at 9 a.m. on Oct. 8. Her last court date was supposed to be a jury trial starting on April 12 that was canceled and not rescheduled.

A sentencing hearing is also scheduled for Bentaas after her change of plea hearing. The sentencing hearing is set for 9 a.m. on Dec. 2. Both hearings will be presided over by Judge Bradley Zell, according to court documents.

Bentaas, 59, is charged with first- and second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter in connection to the former cold case of Baby "Andrew" John Doe. She plead "not guilty" to all three charges on March 19, 2019, according to court documents. It is unknown which of the three "not guilty" pleas Bentaas plans to change during her next hearing.

[...]

Change of plea hearing scheduled in ‘Baby Andrew’ case (dakotanewsnow.com)
According to the Minnehaha County Clerk of Courts, a change of plea hearing has been set for Bentaas on Oct 8. In addition, a sentencing hearing has been set for Dec. 2.