Home / Crime and Justice / NC Woman Arrested in 1979 Infant Death Cold Case
NC Woman Arrested in 1979 Infant Death Cold Case
26 Feb
Summary
- A North Carolina woman was arrested 47 years after an infant was found dead.
- DNA advancements helped investigators solve the 1979 Columbus County landfill cold case.
- The sheriff highlighted the importance of preserving evidence for decades.
A decades-old cold case in North Carolina has been solved with the arrest of Cathy McKee, 69, for her alleged involvement in the 1979 death of her newborn daughter. The infant's body was discovered in a trash bag at the Columbus County landfill on January 11, 1979. At the time, an extensive investigation yielded no leads, leaving the case unsolved for 47 years.
The case was revisited more than a year ago, with detectives collaborating with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Leveraging advancements in DNA technology, investigators were able to connect evidence from the original scene to McKee. She was arrested on Tuesday, February 24, and charged with felony concealing the birth of a child, a crime she allegedly committed when she was 21 years old.
Columbus County Sheriff Bill Rogers praised the original deputies for preserving evidence and commended the current detectives and SBI partners for their tireless efforts. He stated that this resolution brings the truth to the child, ensuring she was not forgotten. McKee has since posted a $5,000 bond.
