JOHNSON COUNTY, Texas – A forensic laboratory in The Woodlands helped solve a cold case from 2001 where an infant was found dead on the side of a road in North Texas.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office said in Nov. 2001, the remains of an unidentified newborn were found on a road in between the cities of Alvarado and Burleson. A resident was picking up cans on the side of the road when he found the lifeless infant wrapped in a jacket with their umbilical cord still attached.
Recommended Videos
Deputies responded to the scene and determined the infant was a girl.
“The child was born alive, likely outside of a medical facility, and had only recently died. Without any clues to the infant’s identity, she became known as “Angel Baby Doe,” the sheriff’s office said. “Due to the circumstances surrounding Angel Baby Doe’s death, investigators deemed the child’s death the result of foul play. The Johnson County Sheriff’s office worked tirelessly for more than two decades to identify Angel Baby Doe.”
In June 2021, the sheriff’s office submitted forensic evidence to Othram, a forensic laboratory in The Woodlands, in hopes that advanced DNA testing could help to identify the child.
Scientists at Othram successfully developed a DNA profile for the infant, and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the child. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used this profile to conduct extensive genetic genealogy research, ultimately providing new investigative leads to law enforcement.
With the new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted which led investigators to potential relatives of the infant. The investigation led to the identification of the infant’s mother, Shelby Stotts.
Stotts has been indicted on multiple charges in connection to the death of Baby Angel Doe. The Texas Office of the Attorney General’s Missing Persons and Cold Case Unit secured an indictment against Stotts for second-degree manslaughter.
“According to the indictment, in November 2001, Stotts recklessly caused the death of her newborn daughter by leaving the baby unattended on the side of the road, failing to seek prompt medical care after giving birth, and failing to clamp the baby’s umbilical cord which caused the child to bleed to death. Stotts will be prosecuted under the laws that were in effect at the time of the offense,” the sheriff’s office said. “The identification of Shelby Stotts marks the 15th case in the State of Texas where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram.”