Share and Follow
After nearly half a century, a breakthrough has finally been achieved in one of North Carolina’s most enduring cold cases. Authorities have apprehended a woman in connection with the tragic discovery of a newborn baby girl found discarded in a trash bag at a landfill in Columbus County.
The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office announced on February 25 that they had arrested 69-year-old Cathy McKee of Whiteville, North Carolina. She faces charges of felony concealing the birth of a child after DNA testing identified her as the infant’s mother.
This haunting case dates back to 1979 when the lifeless body of the newborn was found at a local landfill. Despite the exhaustive efforts of investigators at the time, all leads eventually ran dry. Nevertheless, the sheriff’s office emphasized that the case was “never forgotten.”
Cathy McKee was taken into custody on February 24, bringing a significant development to a mystery that has lingered for close to 50 years. The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office shared that the case had been a persistent presence in the department, with details of the investigation being passed down through generations of law enforcement officers.
“For 47 years, this baby girl’s story was carried forward—passed from one generation of investigators to the next,” the sheriff’s department reflected. “Some who first worked the scene are still remembered today; others have since retired, moved on, or passed away.”
The department said the responsibility felt by the original investigators “did not fade,” calling the case a lasting reminder that the child deserved to be remembered and her story deserved answers.
Officials noted that although the case predated modern DNA technology, investigators used “extraordinary care” in preserving evidence, which ultimately made the arrest possible decades later.
“Their professionalism, compassion, and foresight ensured that this baby girl would not be lost to time,” the department said.
Cathy McKee, 69, was arrested after investigators used modern DNA testing to identify her in connection with a newborn baby found at a Columbus County landfill in 1979. (Columbus County Sheriff’s Office)
The case was formally reopened more than a year ago, and investigators were able to pursue new leads using advances in DNA testing, ultimately identifying McKee as the baby’s mother.
Sheriff Bill Rogers said that even after nearly half a century, the child was “never forgotten.”
“As a father, this case is one that hits deeply. Every child who enters this world deserves protection, love, and the chance to be known,” he said. “For 47 years, this baby girl’s life — however brief — mattered to the investigators who first held that case in their hands and to every detective who reviewed it after. She was never just evidence, never just a report. She was a child, and she was never forgotten.”
The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office announced an arrest on Feb. 25 in a cold case from 1979 where a newborn was found dead in a landfill. (Columbus County Sheriff’s Office)
McKee was released from custody on a $5,000 bond and waived her right to counsel at a court appearance this week.
Related Article
