In October 1987, a man was combing through a dumpster at Riverside when he discovered the body of a newborn baby.
Riverside County officials at the time ruled the death a homicide, but detectives were unable to identify any suspects in the child’s death, according to Riverside Police Department.
But now, nearly 37 years on, authorities say a breakthrough in the cold case from a new DNA analysis has helped detectives identify and arrest the child’s mother, Melissa Jean Allen Avila, 55. She was 19 in October 1987, when the child was found dead, the police said.
55-year-old Melissa Jean Allen Avila was 19 at the time of the child’s death, and detectives have no reason to believe the child’s father had any criminal culpability in the murder.
(City of Riverside)
Avila was recently arrested in North Carolina and extradited this month to Riverside County, where she was charged on suspicion of murder. She is being held in lieu of $1.1 million bail.
Detectives said there was no evidence the child’s father had any connection to the case.
Riverside police officials reminded the public of that state law protects parents or caregiver who surrenders a newborn, 3 days or younger, to any hospital room or fire station without fear of arrest or prosecution.
However, that law was established in 2001.