Riverside, CA (DMN) – A woman has been arrested and charged by a California cold case investigation team for allegedly disposing of her newborn’s remains in a dumpster almost four decades ago.
The Riverside Police Department, located east of Los Angeles, recently made an announcement regarding a breakthrough in a decades-old case. According to a press release, the Riverside County regional cold case team successfully identified a suspect using DNA evidence.
A woman named Melissa Jean Allen Avila, aged 55, has been arrested and is facing charges of first-degree murder in connection with the death of her child, as stated in jail records.
In 1987, a tragic discovery was made when a man found the remains of a baby girl while searching through dumpsters behind a business, as reported by the police.
Initially, the Riverside County Coroner’s office classified the baby’s death as a homicide. However, despite extensive efforts, detectives were unable to uncover any additional evidence, causing the case to eventually go cold.
“Riverside Police Homicide Detectives worked diligently on this case, but all leads were exhausted and a suspect was not identified,” police wrote in the press release.
In 2020, the department established a Homicide Cold Case Unit and decided to reopen the case. With the assistance of the nonprofit organization Season of Justice, they were able to utilize DNA evidence to identify Avila as the child’s mother, according to the release.
As per the press release, Season of Justice provides financial support to law enforcement agencies and families who are seeking to solve cold cases using DNA and genealogy.
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At the time of her daughter’s tragic death, Avila would have been 19 years old. According to the police, there is no evidence to suggest that the baby’s father was involved in any criminal activity related to the murder. There is no additional information available regarding the cause of death.
According to the police, Avila was found in Shelby, North Carolina, and local authorities collaborated with U.S. Marshals to bring her back to Riverside County. Based on jail records, she was taken into custody on Monday, Aug. 5, at 11:30 a.m. and was admitted to the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, California.
According to the police, she is currently being held on bail of $1,100,000.
In 2001, California implemented the Safe Arms for Newborns, also known as the Safely Surrendered Baby Law, according to the Riverside Police Department. According to the law, parents of newborns who are three days old or younger have the option to surrender them to any hospital emergency room or fire station without facing prosecution.
You can find information about the locations of Safely Surrender Baby sites and more on the website of the California Department of Social Services.
“Thanks to the persistent efforts of our investigators and partners, this victim now has an identity, bringing resolution to the case,” Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez said in the press release. “We will remain dedicated to seeking justice for homicide victims and ensuring their families find closure.”
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