AZ Woman Charged in 1981 Newborn Death After DNA Break in Decades-Old Case

A 65-year-old Arizona woman has been charged with murder in connection with the death of a newborn discovered on a North Dakota college campus more than four decades ago, after advances in DNA testing led investigators to identify her as the child’s mother, as reported by The New York Post.

Nancy Jean Trottier was arrested on April 7 and charged in the 1981 case involving a baby girl later named “Rebecca” by police.

The newborn was found on the campus of Valley City State College, located about 100 miles from Bismarck, North Dakota.

Cold Case Breakthrough Leads to Murder Charge in Newborn’s 1981 Death

Authorities charged 65-year-old Nancy Jean Trottier of Sun Lakes, Arizona, with murder in the death of a newborn girl whose body was found in 1981 on the campus of Valley City State College in North Dakota.… pic.twitter.com/UVkoD8cFAe

— Network Axis Group (@NetAxisGroup) April 14, 2026

According to authorities, when the infant was discovered, she had been placed inside a plastic bag with her umbilical cord still attached.

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An autopsy conducted at the time determined the baby had been born alive and that the cause of death was consistent with acute asphyxia.

Trottier had been a student at the college from 1978 to 1982, placing her in the area at the time of the incident.

The case remained unsolved for nearly 45 years before investigators reopened it in 2019 following developments in DNA technology.

Authorities exhumed the infant’s remains in July of that year in an effort to extract genetic material that could lead to new evidence.

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By August 2020, a genetic genealogy report had identified potential relatives, eventually directing investigators toward Trottier as a possible suspect.

When interviewed by law enforcement in October 2021, Trottier allegedly told investigators, “Maybe it was me,” and “It could be, maybe it was me.” She agreed to provide a DNA sample at that time, according to reports.

Investigators also collected DNA from her husband in December 2021.

The results, which were returned in June 2023, indicated it was 3.481 quadrillion times more likely that the baby was the biological child of Trottier and her husband than any unrelated individuals.

Authorities also reported finding DNA consistent with Trottier’s profile on tissue paper recovered from the scene in 1981.

Trottier, who had been living in Sun Lakes, Arizona, made her initial appearance Monday in Barnes County court in North Dakota.

She is facing a Class AA felony murder charge, which is the most serious felony classification under North Dakota law. If convicted, Trottier could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Following the announcement of the charges by Barnes County State’s Attorney Tonya Duffy, members of the Valley City community visited the gravesite of the infant, reflecting on a case that had remained unresolved for decades.

Residents described the long-lasting impact of the case on the community. Lance Peterson, a local resident, recalled the time of the incident and its connection to his family.

“I was a senior in high school when this happened at the college. Our family was involved in this; we had a funeral home in Valley City,” Peterson said.

“It’s been a long, trying ordeal. She’s here now, we’re at the cemetery. Yeah, it’s good closure for Valley City.”

Trottier’s preliminary hearing and arraignment are scheduled for 1 p.m. on May 21 as the case moves forward.

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