WINONA, Minn. – The prosecution team in the Baby Angel homicide case plans to seek a 40-year maximum sentence for the woman accused of killing her newborn daughter and dropping the body in the Mississippi River. It’s become known as the Baby Angel case because the child’s identity remained unknown to investigators for 14 years. Travis Snider, assistant county attorney, niow has filed documents urging Judge Nancy Buytendorp for an aggravated sentence. Under Minesota law Jennifer Nichole Baechle faces a presumptive sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted of second- degree murder. He law, however, allows a judge’s discretion for as much as 40 years. Baechle, has been free on $200,000 bail since being arrested in April. In the new court documents Snider said the baby was especially vulnerable as a newborn and “was treated with particular cruelty.” He acknowledged that it’s unknown whether the baby was alive when put in the river, but, he added, “the disposal of the baby demonstrated sophistication and planning.” He noted “needless trauma” was created for the family who found the body four miles downriver on the shore of a campground. Snider noted too that Baechle hid her involvement for years, including obstruction of the police investigation even as evidence mounted against her.
Earlier: Bail at $200,000 in Baby Angel infanticide
Verbatim
Snider: “The community was traumatized by the victim’s death. Services were held to mourn the victim, and law enforcement was forced to expend resources to discovery defendant’s identity. Defendant continued to live her life in the community and did not take responsibility for her actions.”