Texas woman charged after DNA technology links her to abandoned newborn's death

A Texas woman has been charged with second-degree manslaughter over 20 years after her newborn baby was found dead and abandoned on the side of a road, authorities said on Tuesday. The woman, Shelby Stotts, was identified as the child's mother through DNA enhancement technology, leading to the indictment.

Long-Awaited Justice

"After more than twenty years, we are closer to securing justice for Angel Baby Doe and ensuring that the person responsible for this tragedy is held accountable," said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a statement. He expressed gratitude for the investigators’ talent and tenacity, as well as for the dedication of the law enforcement professionals with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.

Abandonment and Failure to Seek Medical Care

Stotts, now 48 years old, abandoned the baby girl, known as "Angel Baby Doe," in November 2001. Authorities revealed that she failed to seek prompt medical care after giving birth and neglected to clamp the baby’s umbilical cord, resulting in the child bleeding to death. The lifeless newborn was discovered wrapped in a jacket on the side of a road between the towns of Alvarado and Burleson, 20 miles south of Fort Worth, with the umbilical cord still attached.

Due to the circumstances surrounding the child's death, detectives concluded that foul play was involved, as stated by the Johnson County Sheriff's Office.

Breakthrough in the Cold Case

In June 2021, the sheriff’s office utilized forensic-grade genome sequencing from Othram, a DNA lab based in the Houston suburb of The Woodlands, to aid in solving the cold case using genetic science. A genealogy team successfully traced the child's familial connections and ultimately identified her mother as Stotts.

Impact of DNA Technology

This case represents the fifteenth Texas cold case solved through Othram's DNA technology. Notably, Texas' "Safe Haven Law," enacted in 1999, allows parents to drop off unwanted children at fire stations and hospitals for up to 60 days with no questions asked. Stotts is currently being held on a $100,000 bond.