Mom Charged With Manslaughter In 'Baby Angel' Cold Case Of Newborn Found In Mississippi

WINONA COUNTY, MN — The longtime cold case of a newborn found dead over a decade ago in the Mississippi River in Winona County saw a major development Thursday when the child’s mother, identified through genetic testing, was arrested and charged with manslaughter, authorities said.

Long known as “Baby Angel,” the infant was discovered on Sept. 5, 2011, floating in a bag on the river, according to authorities.

Facing two counts of second-degree manslaughter is 43-year-old Jennifer Nichole Beachle of Winona, County Attorney Karin Sonneman said at a press conference Thursday published in full by KTTC.

“She deserved better than a watery grave. She deserved more than a life cut short,” Sheriff Ron Ganrude said of the child at the press conference, noting Beachle had refused to give investigators a DNA sample but that it was eventually obtained with a warrant.

Boaters were the ones to find the bag nearly 14 years ago, which also contained a pendant, incense and angel figurines, KARE 11 reported, adding Beachle’s family told investigators that she was living in a van in 2011, she collected angels and the pendant was recognizably hers.

The baby was full-term with a 4-inch umbilical cord and multiple skull fractures, according to KARE 11.

Beachle — who is married with two children — has been on investigators’ radar since 2023, authorities said. Her next hearing is set for July and if convicted she would face 48 months in prison, according to Sonneman.

Her bail was set Thursday at $200,000 unconditional and $20,000 on the condition that she undergo GPS monitoring and not leave the state, Sonneman said.