Prosecutor Announces Charges, Plea Agreement in 38‑Year Ferdinand Baby Doe Case

Dubois County Prosecutor Beth Schroeder announced that murder and voluntary manslaughter charges were filed Feb. 18, 2026 against the biological mother of the newborn long known as Ferdinand "Baby Doe." The infant's remains were discovered April 12, 1987 inside a plastic shopping bag in a janitorial closet at the Monastery Immaculate Conception, and investigators say advances in DNA technology and investigative genealogy made the identification possible.

Prosecutor Schroeder credited the Indiana State Police Cold Case Unit for the investigative work and framed the filing as a response to decades of unanswered questions. "This has always been about honoring the life of a child who could not speak for himself," Schroeder said. Her office noted that the Ferdinand community held a graveside service for the child in 1987 when no family members could be located, and officials expressed hope the restored identity will allow the community to find "a measure of peace."

Authorities emphasized the defendant was a juvenile at the time of the incident and described the pregnancy as unintended, saying the mother was "a minor in crisis at the time." Because of the defendant's age at the time and ongoing legal considerations, additional identifying details have not been released. Schroeder also said the prosecution will balance accountability with recognition of the difficult circumstances surrounding the case.

The announcement credited forensic advances without providing technical specifics about databases, vendors, or the exact genealogical process used. The Indiana State Police Cold Case Unit's role was singled out for perseverance that investigators say ultimately led to the identification and subsequent filing of murder and voluntary manslaughter counts in Dubois County.

Officials have not disclosed whether any plea agreement has been offered or accepted in the matter, and charging documents and the Dubois County court docket will show the formal counts, filing date, and any scheduled arraignment. Prosecutor Schroeder said the office intends to proceed through the legal process while remembering the human context of the case: "Thanks to science and the perseverance of the Indiana State Police Cold Case Unit, we are able to close one chapter of this case while remembering the human circumstances surrounding it."

The Monastery Immaculate Conception site in Ferdinand, the Indiana State Police Cold Case Unit, and the Dubois County Prosecutor's Office are central to the investigation and forthcoming court proceedings as local officials and residents await further filings in the long-running cold case.