Cold case update: Kenosha Co. investigators to exhume body of Baby John Doe

KENOSHA COUNTY -- Had he lived, he would be 26 years old. Instead, he was buried as a "Baby John Doe." Could investigators finally be close to discovering who killed the little boy?

Kenosha County authorities plan to exhume the body of an unidentified infant on Thursday, August 4th -- in a quest to solve a cold case from November of 1989.

The newborn boy was found deceased by trappers beneath the Des Plaines River Bridge on County Highway N in the Town of Paris on November 9th, 1989.

Officials say a thorough investigation was conducted at that time. An autopsy determined the infant was born alive and the death was classified as a homicide. The infant was named Baby John Doe -- and was buried.

"This baby boy once alive at birth now lies cold and lifeless with no name or history. Deprived of life by someone who would not or could not care for this child,"  officials said at the time.

For more than two decades, no one came forward.

A few years ago, officials with the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department put all of its cold cases on its website.

Then, approximately one year ago, this cold case was reopened when new information became available. Detectives got a call from a person claiming to have information about Baby John Doe.

Detectives have since developed a person of interest in the case.

"We're not releasing anything in relation to the suspect at this time," Klinkhammer said.

The baby's discovery back in 1989 struck an emotional chord in the community. The burial was held at St. John's Cemetery in the Town of Randall.

In order to obtain DNA evidence, the detectives have obtained approval to exhume the infant’s body.

"What's important is we receive some information. Obviously somebody knows something about this. The hope is that they can classify the DNA and hopefully identify a suspect. This is the first time in anybody's memory here that we've actually exhumed a body for a homicide or a criminal case," Klinkhammer said.

Investigators believe Baby John Doe was from southeastern Wisconsin. There's no timeline as to when DNA results could come back in this case.

Again, this exhumation will take place on Thursday, August 4th.

Members of the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department's Detective Bureau, the Kenosha County Medical Examiner’s Office and representatives of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children will be present when the exhumation occurs.

If anyone has information about this case, they are urged to call 262-605-5140. Citizens can remain anonymous by calling the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 800-807-8477 or 262-656-7333.