WINONA, Minn. – The woman arrested for the death of her new-born-infant in 2011, Jennifer Nichole Baechle, was released on $200,000 bail pending further court procedures. The sum posted was actually $20,000 on condition that she wear an ankle bracelet GPS tracker. Prosecutor Karin Sonneman asked for bail at $500,000. Judge Nancy Buytendorp chose $200,000, not seeing Baechle as a danger to the community although declaring her what’s legally called “a flight risk.” If convicted, Baechle could be sent to prison for four years. Possible prison makes her a flight risk, Sonneman said. Baechle herself was braced for the arrest. Investigators had questioned her for months, as well as relatives, as evidence was building up.

Sonneman profile

At 67 and with retirement pending, the Baechle case may be Sonneman’s final high-profile prosecution. In 2023 and 2024 she headed the murder case against Adam Fravel for the death of Maddi Kingsbury.