A Baby's Remains Were Found in a Campsite Toilet in 1997. The Infant's Mother Was Recently Arrested in Connection with the Death.

Years after an infant was found dead in a vault toilet at a campground, police arrested the child’s mother and she was just released on bond this week, officials said.

In August 2022, the Mackinac County Sheriff’s Office announced that Nancy Ann Gerwatowski, 58, was charged with open murder in connection to the death of the child known as “Baby Garnet.”

In 1997, police started to investigate after the infant’s remains were found in a toilet at the Garnet Lake Campground in Hudson Township, Michigan, according to the sheriff’s office.

The baby got the name “Baby Garnet” from local officials.

Police tried to find the victim’s parents but were not successful and the case went cold.

In 2017, police took another look at the case. They submitted DNA from the case and that was used in Genetic genealogy to identify Gerwatowski as the victim’s mom. That process is where DNA from family members is used to create a family tree and identify a suspect.

Police said Gerwatowski had moved to Wyoming. Police traveled to the state in July 2022, arrested her and extradited her.

On Oct. 10, WEYI reported, the 11th Circuit Court in Mackinac County released Gerwatowski on a personal reconnaissance bond.

According to the station, the court has not yet scheduled the suspect's next court appearance.