[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
The mom of a new child little one was arrested and charged with homicide almost 40 years after the infant was discovered lifeless in a gravel pit by a Siberian Husky.
In accordance with a press release from the Maine State Police, 58-year-old Lee Ann Daigle – formally Lee Ann Guerrette – of Lowell, Massachusetts, was arrested at her residence by authorities, waived extradition, and was introduced again to Maine on Monday. She was charged with one rely of homicide and is being held on the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton.
Police say the toddler, often called “Child Jane Doe,” was born at a gravel pit in Frenchville, Maine, after which deserted by the mother in sub-zero temperatures. The physique of the baby was then found on December 7, 1985, after a canine discovered the kid and carried her lower than 700 ft to its house owners’ residence. Whereas investigators have been capable of retrace the trail of the canine to seek out the situation of the gravel pit the place the infant lady was born and left to freeze to dying, the case ended up going nowhere on the time.
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However “over the previous two years,” the press launch famous that two detectives nonetheless “chased each lead and spent numerous hours working and following new leads that helped establish Child Jane Doe’s mom.” They have been finally capable of affirm that Daigle was the infant’s mother, all because of “developments in know-how to incorporate DNA and genetic family tree.” The Maine State Police added:
“This case was the fruits of a long time price of investigative work from dozens of now retired and present detectives who by no means gave up discovering solutions and justice for Child Jane Doe.”
The chilly case beforehand made headlines in 2014 when retired Maine State Police Maj. Charles Love recalled to the Bangor Day by day Information about what occurred when police discovered the infant. He stated on the time:
“It was so chilly, simply very, very chilly. I used to be strolling the scene, making an attempt to collect data. It was so quiet in that gravel pit, and it appeared {that a} automobile had pushed in, because the tracks have been very clear within the snow. Proper close to them have been plainly a set of canine tracks. I turned and adopted these paw prints proper again to the home, the place it had dropped the infant proper by the door.”
Armand and Lorraine Pelletier, who’re the house owners of the canine, additionally spoke out in regards to the horrific discovery, revealing that their canine Paca was ignored within the morning however quickly returned residence and tried to get their consideration on the door:
“That is one thing you don’t neglect. … She stored pounding, and after awhile, I went to go look, and I couldn’t consider what I noticed. I noticed what regarded like slightly rag doll, however then we noticed it was a frozen little child.”
On the time, Lorraine shared that the toddler was “a cute little lady with reddish blond hair” and that investigators advised her “she couldn’t have lived greater than half-hour.” So terrible…
In a brand new interview with the Bangor Day by day Information, Lorraine reacted to the replace within the chilly case, saying:
“By no means, ever, ever did I dream even with DNA that they might discover the mom. It places me in a scenario the place I’m indignant at [Daigle], however then once more, you may’t maintain on to that anger,” she added. “She was scared, and it simply breaks my coronary heart she by no means rang our doorbell and by no means requested for assist.”
You will need to be aware that Maine didn’t have any “protected have legislation,” which permits somebody to give up a child to an applicable company with out penalty, till 2002.
Now, Daigle reportedly faces 25 years to life in jail in addition to a high-quality of as much as $50,000 if convicted. In accordance with the Bangor Day by day Information, she entered a plea of not responsible in her first digital courtroom look on Tuesday. The lady will head again to courtroom on August 8 in Fort Kent District Courtroom.
[Image via Maine State Police]
