Jennifer Cummins Charged in 1991 Madison County Baby Doe Murder, Attorney Protests

Kentucky State Police say preserved evidence from a 1991 cold case produced a DNA lead that connected Jennifer Cummins, 55, of Fairfax, Virginia, to the death of an unidentified newborn known as "Baby Jane Doe." The indictment charging Cummins with murder was returned by a Madison County grand jury in 2025 after investigators re-examined evidence with modern forensic testing and genealogical techniques.

Authorities presented the case to a Madison County grand jury in late 2025, and Cummins was taken into custody in Virginia in January. WJLA reported she “was taken into custody on Jan. 6 by the Fairfax County Police Department's Fugitive Tracking and Apprehension Team.” Initially lodged at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center while awaiting extradition, LEX18 carried an update that she had been transferred to the Madison County Detention Center on Jan. 15. WKYT published that she appeared for arraignment on Feb. 12 and is being held on a $1 million bond.

The original discovery was made in 1991 when a sanitation worker found the infant at the former Richmond Landfill. Multiple reports tie the scene to a dumpster on the Eastern Kentucky University campus; LEX18 explicitly reported that “investigation revealed that she had been born alive and was healthy when placed in a dumpster on Eastern Kentucky University's campus.” The case went cold for decades until KSP re-examined preserved evidence and developed the genealogical lead now tied to Cummins.

WKYT reported that DNA from an ancestry database linked Cummins to the case, and Kentucky State Police have said the investigation used modern testing and genealogy techniques. WJLA emphasized that KSP described the probe as ongoing and said further information may be released as the case moves through the court system. KSP has encouraged anyone with possible leads to submit tips to investigators.

Cummins’ attorney, Brad Clark, has publicly protested the charge and disputed the strength of the evidence. Clark told WKYT his client “is in fact not guilty” and said, “Today the government gave me a copy of what they believe is the evidence against her, which I’m assuming is a forensic report from over 30 years ago using probably laughably out-of-date science.” Clark added, “I and the other attorneys that have looked at this case have seen nothing to support this charge and we think the jury will see it the same way,” and urged the public to “Wait for all the evidence, not just what they’ve heard, not just charges on a piece of paper, but for the evidence to come out.” Clark also said Cummins “was a social worker in Virginia and has no criminal record.”

KSP Trooper Justin Kearney framed the arrest in the context of long-term cold-case work, saying, “This arrest really highlights why cold cases are so important,” and, “Even after decades these cases are never forgotten and we as an agency stay committed to seeking justice for every victim, no matter how much time has passed.” Kearney added, “It was remarkable because we have tried for so long, 34 years, to bring justice for this family.”

Cummins entered a not guilty plea at her Madison County Circuit Court arraignment, according to the Richmond Register. A pretrial conference is set for March 19 at 1:30 p.m., and court records and KSP statements remain the next places to watch for details about the indictment, the forensic testing cited by investigators, and any evidence linking Cummins to Madison County or the Eastern Kentucky University campus.