A Massachusetts woman has been charged with murder in connection with the 1985 death of her newborn son, whose body was discovered by hunters in the woods. The cold case was reportedly cracked using DNA evidence recovered from a soda bottle, authorities announced this week. Dianne Curry Peck, 59, pleaded not guilty to the murder charge during a court appearance on Tuesday. The infant, known for decades as “Baby Boy Doe” of Mansfield, Massachusetts, was found dead on January 26, 1985.
A Tragic Discovery
The grim discovery was made by a father and son who were out hunting rabbits. They noticed footprints in the snow, initially mistaking the infant for a doll before realizing it was a naked baby lying on the ground. An autopsy later confirmed the child had been born alive and died shortly thereafter. Kenneth Martin, who was a Massachusetts State Police trooper assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office at the time, described the scene to reporters: “It was naked, lying on its back; the umbilical cord was still attached to the baby.” The circumstances were so dire that the Mansfield Police Department, with assistance from former New England Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan, funded the baby’s funeral.
Reopening the Investigation
The case remained unsolved for nearly four decades until Bristol County investigators, in partnership with the FBI and state authorities, reopened it in 2022. Utilizing forensic genetic genealogy, a technique that analyzes DNA to identify relatives and ultimately individuals, investigators began piecing together the identity of the infant and his family. This advanced investigative approach eventually led them to Dianne Curry Peck.
The DNA Link
Authorities stated that DNA recovered from a soda bottle, found in Peck’s trash, provided the crucial link connecting her to the child. At the time of the birth, Peck was a 17-year-old student at Mansfield High School. Investigators reportedly interviewed Peck, who allegedly admitted to giving birth to a baby in the back seat of her ex-boyfriend’s car. According to reports, she claimed she handed the infant over to her ex-boyfriend, who told her he knew someone who would adopt the child. Peck reportedly told investigators she believed she had given birth to a girl and never spoke to her ex-boyfriend again. He passed away in 2020.
Prosecution’s Argument
Prosecutors highlighted that there is currently no evidence suggesting anyone, including Peck’s ex-boyfriend, was aware of her pregnancy. However, they also presented a challenge to Peck’s account of the timeline. While Peck stated she gave birth on January 20, 1985, prosecutors argued in court that this date is inconsistent with the condition of the baby’s body and the freezing temperatures recorded at the time of the discovery. A medical examiner’s assessment indicated the infant had likely been in the woods for approximately 12 hours before being found, suggesting a later birth date than Peck initially provided.
Justice for Baby Boy Doe
FBI Boston Special Agent-in-Charge Ted Docks spoke outside the courthouse, emphasizing the profound tragedy of the case. “Few cases are more heartbreaking than one involving a newborn baby, allegedly abandoned and left to die in the woods by his mother, deprived of the care, love and protection every child deserves,” Docks stated. “For 41 years, this child was known simply as Baby Boy Doe. He entered this world with limitless promise, but was denied the most basic right to live.” The investigation is ongoing, and authorities continue to work towards bringing closure to this decades-old case.
