In 1987, police in California detained a lady who they claimed gave birth to a daughter, killed her, and dumped the child in a dumpster.
The baby girl was discovered on October 13, 1987, by a man who was going through the rubbish behind a business in the 5400 block of La Sierra Avenue, according to the Riverside Police Department.
Although police did not make the baby’s method of death public, the Riverside County Coroner’s Office declared the death to be a homicide. The case’s original detectives were never able to pin down a suspect.
In 2020, police collaborated with the Riverside County Regional Cold Case Team and revisited the case.
Melissa Jean Allen Avila, 55, was identified as the mother using DNA, according to the agency. When the girl was born, she was 19. Avila was tracked by the local police and the US Marshals Office to Shelby, North Carolina, which is located almost 2,300 miles away from Riverside.
Avila was extradited back to California on August 5th in order to face a murder accusation. She is currently being held at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility on a $1.1 million bail.
“Thanks to the persistent efforts of our investigators and partners, this victim now has an identity, bringing resolution to the case,” Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez stated. “We will remain dedicated to seeking justice for homicide victims and ensuring their families find closure.”
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According to the authorities, there was no involvement from the girl’s father in the murder. The girl would be 36 years old if she were still living today.
Gonzalez gave credit to the group Season of Justice, which seeks donations to assist organizations in financing cutting-edge DNA testing. He claimed that the analysis that resulted in the arrest of the Avila was carried out by Othram, Inc., a private laboratory that specialized in DNA technology.
A parent or legal guardian may discreetly turn over a baby, age three days or under, to any hospital emergency department or fire station without fear of retaliation under California’s “Safe Arms for Newborns” statute, which went into effect in 2001, provided the child is not abused. It’s known as the Safe Haven Law in other states.
