Baby Faith/Baby Hope August 1996 Colorado
Aug 23, 2006 2:27 pm US/Mountain Police Hope DNA Will Solve 2 Newborn Deaths (CBS4) FORT COLLINS, Colo. Investigators in Larimer and Pueblo counties hope advances in DNA analysis will help identify two newborn girls found 10 years ago this month. Both infants were found dead in bodies of water the same weekend. On August 24, 1996, two boys from Fort Collins found a plastic bag floating in the north end of Horsetooth Reservoir. The body of a newborn girl eventually became known as "Baby Faith" to the Fort Collins community. Authorities determined the girl was born alive on August 22, 1996 and classified the death as a homicide. At the same time, the Pueblo County Sheriff's office was investigating the discovery of a newborn girl's body found floating in the Arkansas River just below the Pueblo Reservoir. That baby eventually became known as "Baby Hope." The departments worked together and determined the girls were not twins. Despite campaigns to find anyone with information about the babies, no one ever came forward to identify either infant. "Baby Faith" was buried in the Roselawn Cemetery in Fort Collins under a headstone donated by the community and many members of the community filled the Timberline Church for a memorial service. On the 10th anniversary of the deaths, the departments were making plans to resubmit the evidence for DNA analysis. The Larimer County Sheriff's office has asked the public again to help identify "Baby Faith". Additional Resources Anyone with information should call Lt. Andy Josey at (970) 498-5161 or call Larimer County Crimestoppers at (970) 221-6868. The Pueblo County Sheriff's office can be contacted at (719) 583-6400 with information about "Baby Faith". http://cbs4denver.com/local/local_story_235162959.html

Baby Faith's case reopened Re-evaluation of similar case spurs action By KENDRA HUME KendraHume@coloradoan.com In Roselawn Cemetery on the eastside of Fort Collins rests the body of a newborn, whose murder remains unresolved after a decade. "Baby Faith," as she is remembered, was discovered by two 11-year-old boys inside a plastic bag near the shore of Horsetooth Reservoir 10 years ago today . Larimer County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday it is reopening the investigation because of the re-evaluation of a similar case in Pueblo County. The same day Baby Faith was pulled out of Horsetooth Reservoir, another newborn with a similar description was found dead in the Arkansas River just south of the Pueblo Reservoir. Pueblo's "Baby Hope" had apparently been drowned. Like Baby Faith, who was suffocated, Baby Hope was never identified and investigations 10 years ago never led to the mother. "We have never closed the door on the idea there was a relationship between the two deaths, because it's so unusual to have such similar events occur at the same time," said J. R. Hall, commander of investigations at Pueblo County Sheriff's Office. Lt. Andy Josey of Larimer County Sheriff's Office said Pueblo County contacted him a few months ago to make plans to resubmit evidence for DNA analysis. Hall of Pueblo County and Josey of Larimer County said they hope modern DNA analysis and comparisons with national databases may help identify both girls. Early comparisons did not link the two babies as identical twins, but the possibility they were fraternal twins was never ruled out. Josey said his office is once again asking for tips from the community. "It may be that someone knew something 10 years ago, but that we never heard about it," he said. During the initial investigation the Sheriff's Office received tips from as far away as Grand Junction, Josey said. They were followed, but led to dead ends, he said. "We want to see if we can't bring some relief to our victims. There are many out there that we want to give closure to, not the least of which are young victims like Baby Hope who is so close to our hearts," Hall said. Baby Faith's gravesite is one of many plots at Roselawn owned by the county for the burials of unidentified victims. Her headstone, which reads "Baby Faith - God Loves You," was paid for with donations from the community. Phil Carpenter, who has worked at the cemetery for the past 27 years, remembers being at Baby Faith's memorial service. "From what I recall, there were quite a few law enforcement people there and a few church people there out of respect for the body and what had happened. "It was not a big group of people." Carpenter remembers that at first people from the church would visit the burial site and leave flowers for Baby Faith, but after a while, they stopped coming. He said there haven't been flowers at her grave in years. http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060824/NEWS01/608240336/1002

Baby Faith case shows importance of Safe Haven law Law might have saved infant killed 10 years ago; March case was a success By KENDRA HUME KendraHume@coloradoan.com Those involved in the surrender of a baby at a fire station in March agree the option given to mothers under Colorado's Infant Safe Haven Law can save lives - and could have possibly saved Baby Faith 10 years ago. Angela Mead, the deputy division manager of child and family services, said hearing about the Baby Faith case this week reminded her of how important the safe haven law is. Baby Faith's body was found in a plastic bag in Horsetooth Reservoir 10 years ago. Her mother has never been identified. Because the baby was born alive, the case is considered a homicide. "It brought tears to my eyes," Mead said. "It reminded me of the importance of having a law like this that gives the mother a safer alternative." She said the law could have made a difference for Baby Faith. The Safe Haven Law, adopted in 2000, allows mothers to surrender their newborns to a hospital or fire station with 72 hours without consequences. The only time the law has been used in Larimer County was on March 10 when a woman delivered a baby boy at Poudre Fire Authority Station 2, 415 S. Bryan Ave. The mother, whose identity is protected under the law, gave birth to the baby at the fire station, refused further medical care and left her son in the care of firefighters. Kevin Housley, an EMT with PFA, assisted paramedics with the birth and care of the baby that day. "I'm not sure I can speak to if it could have saved Baby Faith, but if the Safe Haven Law is promoted effectively, mothers have the option to make a safe choice for their baby," he said. The mother in this case made a conscious decision to surrender her child. The law worked the way it's supposed to. Housley hasn't had any contact with the baby boy since the baby's birth. He is now more than 5 months old. Because of confidentiality laws, Mead said she could not say what happen to the baby since he was surrendered. She said that, in safe haven cases, the county immediately takes custody of the baby and finds short-term care for him. Short-term care, she said, is generally placement at a foster home. Mead said it is possible a relative who may know the baby was surrendered can petition for custody of the child. Publicity surrounding abandoned babies also draws public interest. "It's not uncommon for us to get calls from the community expressing an interest in adopting the child." Lt. Andy Josey with Larimer County Sheriff's Office is handling Baby Faith's case and said he is supportive of the Safe Haven Law. "I believe that if the law had existed it may have made a difference," he said. After announcing the revival of Baby Faith's case earlier this week, Josey said he has not received any viable leads from the public, but is still hopeful. http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060826/NEWS01/608260319/1002