Wichita Falls Cold Case Solved After Almost Forty Years

The death of an infant in Wichita Falls from the late 1980's has finally been solved after a decades long investigation.

In case you missed the press conference yesterday, I will put it in full below. The Department of Justice announced that they have closed a cold case from August 4, 1988. On that date, an infant was found deceased at Ponds Laundry in Wichita Falls. The baby was wrapped in linens from the Air Force Regional Hospital at Sheppard Air Force Base. According to the Department of Justice, "all known pregnant patients and newborns at the hospital and on the base were accounted for."

Press Conference on Wichita Falls Cold Case

At the time, investigators believed the baby died from hypovolemia and anemia. The case was eventually closed when no further information or suspects could be determined. Then in 2015, a new technology emerged that could give investigators more answers. Advanced forensic genealogical methods were used from genetic material from the infant to determine who the parents of deceased baby was.

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Through this new DNA test and analyzing service rosters at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls at the time. They were able to determine the infant's mother and father. Police were able to investigate both individuals to determine what happened to the baby in 1988. Tammy Sue Kerns, the mother of the infant, admitted to investigators she killed the baby.

(WARNING: GRAPHIC DETAILS BELOW ON DEATH OF NEWBORN)

In plea papers, Kerns admitted she went into labor while working a night shift at the hospital, hid herself in the x-ray room so that no one would see her and locked the doors to prevent others from entering. Kerns gave birth during the shift and once she delivered Infant Male Doe, she placed her hand over his mouth until he stopped crying and/or breathing. Kerns then severed the umbilical cord from Infant Male Doe and the placenta and wrapped the cord around his body. Kerns then wrapped Infant Male Doe in hospital linens and placed the deceased infant in the laundry bin, cleaned up the room and returned to her shift. At the conclusion of the interview, Kerns voluntarily provided her DNA which confirmed she was the mother of Infant Male Doe.

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Kerns faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison, a fine up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release up to five years. Otherwise, this charge carries a sentence of up to life in federal prison. Her sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 8, 2027, before Chief U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor.