Genetic testing leads to break in 1980s cold case of dead baby found in trash

New developments in a cold case from 1981 have the Texas Department of Public Safety and the San Bruno Police Department in California working to find new leads.

On Nov. 11, 1981, around 4 p.m., the body of a baby boy was found in a garbage can in Buckeye Park in San Bruno, California.

According to a statement released by San Bruno police at the time, the baby had only been dead for a few hours when he was found, and he died from strangulation and severe head injuries.

During the initial investigation, police were unable to identify the child or anyone involved in his death.

Police said they determined through blood tests that the baby had O-positive blood type, and there was reddish brown human hair and black dog hair found on the sock used to strangle the infant.

The SBPD worked with the Texas Rangers Unsolved Crimes Investigation Program to use genetic genealogy technology to identify the infant’s family, Texas DPS announced this week.

“While the San Bruno Police Department knows the identity of both parents, their names are not being released currently,” DPS said in a news release. “This identification represents a major step forward in the case and has renewed efforts to bring this case to justice.”

Investigators believe that persons of interest in the case might now be in the North Texas area, a DPS official said.

The Texas Rangers and San Bruno police are asking anyone with information about this case, the events that occurred in Buckeye Park in November 1981, or individuals who may have knowledge related to the baby or his family to contact the San Bruno Police Department.

Information can be provided by calling the San Bruno Police Department at (650) 616-7100 or by email: sbpdtipline@sanbruno.ca.gov.