Manchester Mother Hepay Juma Charged in Death of Baby Jane Grace

The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office announced that Hepay Juma, 26, of Manchester, was arrested and charged with reckless second‑degree murder for "causing the death of Baby Jane 'Grace' Doe, her child, under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to the value of human life," officials said in the Feb. 26 announcement.

Investigators say the infant's body was found floating in Pine Island Pond on March 27, 2025 after a kayaker discovered the child; detectives determined the child had been placed in the water sometime during March 25‑27, 2025. Pine Island Pond, also referred to in reports as Pine Island Park, is a neighborhood park with walking trails and a playground located near Manchester‑Boston Regional Airport.

Police initially were unable to identify the newborn and treated the death as suspicious following an autopsy. Authorities publicly appealed for help, asking whether anyone saw someone discarding anything into the pond in the 14 days before the discovery or knew of a pregnant woman who gave birth and needed medical help, and a $5,000 reward for information leading to a breakthrough in the case was announced.

Volunteers and members of the community held a public funeral for the infant in May 2025; the baby was interred in a small white coffin and the child had been referred to as "Grace" by police and community members. Manchester Police Chief Peter Marr described the death as "extremely tragic" and at the May service said, "The way she was discarded is heartbreaking, and it is important that we give her a proper farewell."

The Department of Justice - New Hampshire named Hepay Juma in the charging notice summarized by state officials; prosecutors say the charge stems from causing the death of Baby Jane "Grace" Doe. CBS reported that Juma was scheduled to be arraigned on Friday in Manchester District Court following the Feb. 26 announcement.

Authorities have not released how investigators identified Juma, whether anyone else is under investigation, or the cause or manner of death determined by the autopsy. No criminal complaint, affidavit excerpts, or detailed forensic findings have been made public with the charging announcement, and officials have not described the evidence that led to the arrest.

The arrest comes nearly a year after the March 27, 2025 discovery at Pine Island Pond, and court filings and the arraignment in Manchester District Court will be the first public steps expected to reveal prosecutorial details. Journalists and neighbors will be watching for the charging documents and any statements from prosecutors, defense counsel, or police that clarify the investigation and the evidence behind the reckless second‑degree murder charge.