North Carolina Woman Arrested Nearly 50 Years After Newborn Found in Landfill

WHITEVILLE, N.C. — A North Carolina woman has been arrested and charged with felony concealing the birth of a child, nearly 47 years after a newborn baby girl was found deceased at a Columbus County landfill in 1979. Cathy McKee, 69, of Whiteville, was arrested on February 24, 2026, and has since bonded out of jail, according to the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office.

Decades-Ancient Cold Case Revived

The remains of the infant, initially referred to as “Baby Doe” by investigators, were discovered inside a trash bag at the county landfill in 1979. Despite an initial investigation, the case went cold for nearly five decades. The case was reopened in 2024 by the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office and the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), driven by advancements in DNA technology.

Breakthrough with Forensic DNA Technology

Investigators partnered with Othram, a Texas-based forensic company specializing in identifying remains in cold cases. Othram utilizes forensic-grade genome sequencing to develop DNA profiles from decades-old tissue samples, even those that have previously yielded insufficient results.

“We’re particularly well-known for our work, and working on evidence that is challenging, and may have failed elsewhere,” said Colby Lasyone, Othram’s Chief of Staff.

Othram extracted DNA from the baby’s tissue sample and created a comprehensive DNA profile, which was then provided to Columbus County investigators. This profile ultimately led to the identification of McKee as the baby’s mother.

Preservation of Evidence Key to Resolution

Sheriff Bill Rogers credited the original deputies who responded to the scene in 1979 for meticulously preserving the baby’s remains, which proved crucial to the eventual identification. The careful handling of evidence, even before advanced DNA testing was available, allowed for the breakthrough decades later.

The Cost of Forensic DNA Analysis

The process of extracting and analyzing DNA for such cases is costly, with Othram charging approximately $10,000 per DNA profile case. Law enforcement agencies typically bear these expenses.

Unidentified Remains Remain a Significant Issue

Othram estimates that tens of thousands of individuals in the United States remain unidentified, many for decades. The company has worked on nearly 350 cases since 2018, highlighting the growing use of advanced DNA technology to bring closure to long-standing mysteries.