The person at the center of this case
Baby Jane Doe (unidentified newborn female)
Cold Case · Open
39 years waiting · since 1986
BABY JANE DOE
Justice for Baby Jane Doe (unidentified newborn female) — the trail went cold in 1986, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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evidence
Lead #1The distinctive beach towel with African Plains cheetah imagery—where was it purchased and who owned it? This unique item could be traced to identify the person who discarded the infant.
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person
Lead #2Who was the biological mother and what circumstances led to the infant being abandoned? Medical records from local hospitals around the delivery date may help identify her.
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witness
Lead #3Did anyone see suspicious activity at the shopping center dumpster on December 3-4, 1986? Workers, shoppers, or nearby residents may have observed relevant details.
On December 4, 1986, the remains of a full-term newborn girl were discovered in a dumpster behind a shopping center in Washington Township, New Jersey, wrapped in a distinctive beach towel depicting an African Plains scene. The infant, weighing approximately 7 pounds with dark hair and brown eyes, was ruled a homicide victim by asphyxiation, but her identity remains unknown nearly 40 years later. The case remains open as investigators seek anyone with information about the infant's identity or the circumstances surrounding her death.
Case
#416
FBI Philadelphia Field Office and Gloucester County, New Jersey law enforcement
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4The infant was full-term and healthy at birth—was there a recent birth at a local hospital or home delivery that went unreported during this time period?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Homicide Victim Washington Township, New Jersey December 4, 1986 The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Philadelphia Field Office and law enforcement officials in Gloucester County, New Jersey, are seeking the public's assistance in identifying an unknown deceased infant. On the morning of December 4, 1986, the remains of a full-term, White, newborn female infant were found in a dumpster behind a shopping center located at Ganttown Road and Rt.
42 in Washington Township, New Jersey. The infant weighed approximately 7 pounds and had dark hair and brown eyes.
She was found inside a silver, plastic trash bag wrapped in a beach towel that depicted an African Plains scene. The death was ruled a homicide by asphyxiation.
Timeline of Events
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1986-12-04
Infant remains discovered
Full-term newborn female found in silver plastic trash bag wrapped in beach towel with African Plains scene design in dumpster behind shopping center at Ganttown Road and Rt. 42
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:December 4, 1986
Last Updated:June 7, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:December 4, 1986
Last Updated:June 7, 2026