Detectives Hope Sketch of Newborn Found Headless in Trash at New Jersey Recycling Plant Five Months Ago Will Lead to Killer

Authorities are hoping a new composite sketch of the newborn found dead, headless among blood-stained clothing that investigators say may have belonged to her mother, in the trash at a New Jersey recycling plant five months ago will help lead to the child's killer.

The remains of the full-term infant girl were found in November at the ReCommunity Recycling facility on Railroad Avenue in Farmingdale. A worker moving trash made the grisly discovery.

Detectives conducted an exhaustive search of the garbage near where the child was found and recovered her head, two blood-stained shirts and a bag from a retail store in Orange, far from the Monmouth County town where the baby's remains were located. The blouses had no tags, but could be characterized as petite to medium, and authorities believe they and the bag were the mother's.

The baby, who was named Emma Grace by the Ardena Baptist Church in Howell, was 21.5 inches, 7 pounds and 5 ounces when she was discovered. Her remains have been released to the church, which will hold a funeral for her on Saturday.

The medical examiner's office was not able to determine the child's cause and manner of death from an autopsy, but said it was certain she was not a stillborn. Evidence suggests the newborn girl breathed before she died, authorities have said.

State Police have consulted with an FBI profiling expert who believes if the mother was responsible for dumping the baby's body, she may have been trying to conceal her pregnancy before giving birth. She may have been living a different lifestyle than she was accustomed to as a result of the pregnancy, and the profile said she may have resumed more of her normal routines since it ended.

Authorities say has been no evidence to indicate the mother was a victim of foul play, though the possibility has not been ruled out.

Detectives hope someone may recognize the infant based on the composite sketch or be able to help identify the mother based on the clothing found near the child.

Anyone who has information is asked to call the New Jersey State Police Major Crime Unit at (609) 882-2000 ext. 2538 or the Monmouth County prosecutor's office at 1-800-533-7443. Anonymous tips can also be left online here.  

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