A newborn was found dead at a California dump 30 years ago. His mother was just arrested.
A central California woman was arrested Thursday in connection with the cold case death of her newborn baby, whose body was found in at a dumpsite 30 years ago.
Pamela Ferreyra, 60, has been charged with one count of murder in the death of the baby boy in 1994, according to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office. The cause of death was never determined.
New DNA profiling and technology led to the identification of the Watsonville woman, who was arrested at her home without resistance, sheriff's office spokesperson Andy Rosas confirmed at a news conference.
Assistant District Attorney Matt L'Heureux said it's his understanding that Ferreyra has other children. Her Facebook page suggests she worked as an in-home healthcare provider, local station KSBW-TV reported.
Monterey court records do not indicate whether Ferreyra has been assigned an attorney as of Thursday evening.
Age of infant child undetermined
While the exact age of the infant victim is unclear, Rosas said that officials can confirm that he was indeed born. However, officials have been unable to determine whether the baby was alive or dead when left at an illegal dumpsite in a rural part of Monterey county.
The baby was placed in a red paper bag wearing a white T-shirt, diaper and a stocking-style cap while wrapped up in a blanket with pink and blue stripes, according to Rosas. Officials are calling the infant "Baby Garin" as he was found on Garin Road.
"If you ask any law enforcement professional they will tell you that the hardest case to investigate is any involving crimes against children," Rosas told reporters. "These are emotional cases that one does not easily if ever forget."
Authorities estimated that the body was lying there for around two to three weeks, the San Francisco Chronicle reported in 1994.
Cold case reopened in 2023
After decades as a cold case, the investigation reopened in early 2023.
Thanks to technological advances, officials created a DNA profile suitable for forensic genetic genealogy, Rosas said. A Colorado-based genealogy company was eventually able to offer a lead on the newborn's family. A warrant for Ferreyra's arrest was ordered Tuesday.
While a cause of death has not been determined, L'Heureux said the district attorney's office still has sufficient evidence to charge the mother with murder. At the news conference, he said he could not answer what was going through Ferreyra's mind the past 30 years.
"We run into a variety of different reactions. Some of them seem to think that they have gotten away with it and are very surprised. Some of them have been waiting for that knock on the door for decades," L'Heureux said. "I couldn't tell you which situation this falls under but we're happy this day has come."
Ferreyra's arraignment has been scheduled for Friday afternoon and her bail has been set at $1 million.