In October 1987, a man was combing through a Riverside dumpster when he discovered the body of newborn baby.
Riverside County officials at the time ruled the death a homicide, but detectives were unable to identify any suspects in the baby’s death, according to the Riverside Police Department.
But now, almost 37 years, authorities say a breakthrough in the cold case from a new DNA analysis has helped detectives identify and arrest the baby’s mother, Melissa Jean Allen Avila, 55. She was 19 in October 1987, when the baby was found dead, police said.
55-year-old Melissa Jean Allen Avila was 19 at the time of the baby’s death and detectives have no reason to believe the baby’s father had any criminal culpability in the murder.
(City of Riverside)
Avila was recently apprehended in North Carolina and extradited this month to Riverside County, where she was booked on suspicion of murder. She is being held in lieu of a $1.1-million bail.
Detectives said there was no evidence the baby’s father had any link to the case.
Riverside police officials reminded the public that state law protects parents or caregivers who surrender a newborn, 3 days or younger, to any hospital room or fire station without fear of arrest or prosecution.
That law, however, was established in 2001.