A woman faces murder liabilities in a decades-old Texas case after a baby was found dead near a roadside.
Shelby Stotts Arrested and DNA Identification in the Case of Angel Baby Doe
Shelby Stotts was arrested on Monday after DNA proof recognized her as the baby's mother, according to statements from the Texas Attorney General's Office and Johnson County Sheriff's Office. In November 2001, a man collecting cans south of Fort Worth found the baby, named "Angel Baby Doe."
The Johnson County Sheriff's Office, which primarily handled the case, recorded that the baby was wrapped in a jacket with the umbilical cord still connected.
The sheriff's office recorded that, based on the situation of Angel Baby Doe's demise, investigators decided it was a case of foul play.
Three years ago, investigators submitted genetic material to a lab in The Woodlands, Texas, where forensic scientists created a DNA profile for the baby. An in-house genealogy team then gave new leads to law enforcement.
As a result of this inspection, Stotts was recognized as the mother of the baby. The Texas Attorney General's Office received a second-degree murder accusation against Stotts, asserting she dangerously caused her daughter's passing by dumping her without proper medical care.
The indictment also alleges that the baby died from bleeding because her umbilical cord was not properly clamped.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton declared that after over twenty years, they are closer to obtaining justice for Angel Baby Doe and guaranteeing responsibility.
Court records do not list an attorney for Stotts, and no publicly available phone numbers were found for her.
Texas' Implementation of Safe Haven Laws
Texas was one of the first states to authorize safe haven laws, known as "Baby Moses" laws, which permit mothers to safely and unknowingly leave their newborns with authorities. The law was passed in 1999, and many states have since adopted similar legislation.
Safe haven laws desire to refrain from child abandonment and infanticide by permitting mothers to abandon their babies at particular locations, like police or fire departments, where the newborns obtain medical care until placed in foster or adoptive homes.
Steve Shaw spoke with one of the original Johnson County detectives on the case, who mentioned that it remains vivid even after twenty years.
Shaw remarked, "It's a baby, and I have two kids. This just isn't right. It's simply not right."
Stotts was employed at Cleburne High School, located near the site where the baby was found. The Cleburne Independent School District acknowledged the accusations and confirmed that Stotts is no longer employed there.
The statement indicated that the District plans to adhere to Board Policy and state law by conducting a thorough investigation. Due to the sensitive nature of the personnel issue, the District cannot disclose additional details or comments, as required by state law and board policy.
Attorney General Ken Paxton remarked in a statement that the timing of Stotts' departure from her position or whether she was terminated remains unclear. He highlights that after more than two decades, efforts are nearing completion to obtain justice for Angel Baby Doe and hold the people accountable for these deadly circumstances.
Attorney General Paxton conveyed gratitude for the skill and diligence of the investigators, and he praised the faithfulness of the law enforcement professionals from the Johnson County Sheriff's Office in their quest to disclose the truth.
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