Baby Dumped Near Albany Statue in 1997 Identified, Mother Admits To Suffocating The Baby, Faces 25 Years in Jail

In a recent development from New York, the 27-year-old cold case of “Baby Moses” has finally been solved, according to DNASOLVES. 

The case, which had haunted the Albany community since 1997, saw this groundbreaking breakthrough thanks to the relentless efforts of law enforcement and advancements in DNA analysis.

It all began on September 7, 1997, when city workers discovered the body of a newborn wrapped in a burnt cloth near the Moses statue in Albany’s Washington Park. 

The infant, later named “Baby Moses” by investigators, weighed 9 pounds and 3 ounces and was found to have been born alive and healthy. 

Despite an extensive investigation, no leads emerged, and the case went cold, leaving the community heartbroken and searching for answers.  

For years, the mystery of Baby Moses remained unsolved. 

However, in 2020, the Albany Police Department decided to revisit the case due to advancements in forensic science.

They partnered with the Cold Case Analysis Center at the College of Saint Rose. 

Using preserved evidence, forensic specialists extracted a usable DNA profile, which was later enhanced by Othram, a leading DNA lab.

In 2022, Othram developed a comprehensive DNA profile for the infant. 

This profile was then handed over to the FBI’s forensic genetic genealogy team, which used it to search their database for potential matches. 

The search led to the identification of a relative, and through further investigation, police were able to zero in on Keri S. Mazzuca, the infant’s biological mother.  

With this new lead, Albany police began surveillance on Mazzuca, collecting discarded items from her residence to obtain a confirmatory DNA sample. 

The results conclusively identified her as the child’s mother. 

On September 6, 2024, Mazzuca was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, and concealment of a human corpse.  

During this recorded interview, she initially denied involvement but then calmly confessed, saying, "I did it." 

She revealed that she gave birth to the baby in her bathtub, and the infant died shortly after birth. 

Mazzuca admitted to suffocating the child and then burning the remains, although she initially tried to claim she handed the baby to a stranger.

She then left the infant in Washington Park, where he was discovered the following day.  

The autopsy showed the baby had been breathing, indicating death was not from natural causes but likely suffocation

On February 13, 2025, Mazzuca pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and tampering with physical evidence in Albany County Court. 

She was eventually sentenced to 25 years in state prison, on April 18, 2025.  

Keri Mazzuca in court 

The discovery of Baby Moses’ body in 1997 really shocked the Albany community in New York. 

The city arranged for his burial in Graceland Cemetery under a headstone that reads, “Moses Washington. Citizen of Albany. Child of God.” 

For years, the case remained one of the city’s most haunting unsolved mysteries, with many hoping for a resolution.  

Albany County District Attorney Lee Kindlon praised the efforts of detectives and vowed to form a task force to review other cold cases. 

“My office and the Albany police are just as determined to solve cases like this and bring perpetrators to justice as we are to make sure that cases get a second chance of review,” he said.  

The resolution of the Baby Moses case is a powerful reminder of how far DNA forensics and investigative genetic genealogy have come. 

Dr. Michael Baden, the forensic pathologist who conducted the autopsy on Baby Moses, noted, “The advancements in DNA technology have given us tools to solve cases that were once beyond our reach. This is a new era for forensic science."

As more cold cases are revisited with these advanced tools, we can expect even more breakthroughs in the years to come.  

Note: This article was updated on May 21, 2025.