BREAKING: Winona woman charged in ‘Baby Angel’ case-Infant found dead in Mississippi River in 2011

An arrest is made in Winona County in the cold case death 14 years ago of an infant who has become known as “Baby Angel.”

Jennifer Baechle of Winona faces two counts of 2nd Degree Manslaughter for the infant’s death. Baechle is believed to have given birth to the child a day or two before the body was found in a bag in the Mississippi River by boaters on September 5, 2011.

There were also porcelain figurines of angels inside the bag.

In comments at a news conference on Thursday afternoon, Sheriff Ganrude said Baby Angel’s death weighed heavily on the hearts of the community for more than 13 years. “She deserved better than a watery grave. She deserved more than a life cut short. And while her birth mother remained hidden, this community wrapped its arms around this little girl. More than 150 people gathered to mourn our Baby Angel all those years ago. And ever since, they’ve waited impatiently for answers that she deserved. We never gave up to find those answers.”

Despite periodic requests to the community, investigators weren’t able to identify the infant.

According to the criminal complaint, over ten years later, the sheriff’s office turned to a group called the Firebird Forensics Group to help gather DNA evidence and develop leads in the case.

One of the leads, Sheriff Ron Ganrude said, led to Jennifer Baechle in 2023. A request for a voluntary DNA sample was turned down when investigators went to her in May 2023. Not long after, an attorney sent a letter to investigators saying they were representing Baechle, and any contact would go through the attorney’s office.

The complaint said additional DNA evidence was gathered through a trash pull done by deputies and sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

That evidence led to a search warrant that Baechle provides a DNA sample. The complaint said a BCA report later said that there was “very strong evidence to support the biological relationship between Defendant (Baechle) and the unidentified female infant as being a biological mother daughter relationship.”

Once it was determined that Baechle was Baby Angel’s mother, Sheriff Ganrude said the investigation continued, “attempting to learn everything we could about how Baby Angel died and why she was placed in the river. We don’t have all the answers, but we know who is responsible. And today’s charges are a first step in holding her accountable.”

The complaint said that Baechle’s family members were interviewed by investigators. They said they hadn’t had contact with her in 2011. They said she was living in a van that year.

Family members did, however, identify some of the items found with Baby Angel as belonging to Baechle.

At a hearing Thursday morning, Judge Nancy Buytendorp set bond at $200,000 without conditions or $20,000 with conditions. If she does post bond, Baechle would need to be on GPS monitoring and not leave the state without court approval.

Baechle’s next court appearance is set for July 7.

Updates will be posted on the WIZM News webpage.