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Sandy Springs Police seek clues in dead baby's cold case

As Sandy Springs Police near the eight-year anniversary of an unresolved homicide, they are hopeful that a $2,000 reward will help crack the cold case of a newborn baby found dead in a duffel bag.

"The case was pretty much a cold case from the start," says Sandy Springs Police Sgt. Ron Momon.  "We haven't had any leads on the case in almost eight years."

On March 11, 2007, a 12-year-old boy made the discovery when he picked up the blue and black gym bag on the sidewalk of Applegate Lane near the intersection of Long Beach Circle and Roberts Drive, at about 5:00 in the afternoon.  Surprised at what he saw, he rushed home.

"The child really didn't know if it was a real baby or anything inside, so the child took the bag actually home and showed it to their mother," says Momon.  "The mother was a nurse, and realized that they had actually a deceased infant in their possession."

Momon says the baby was no more than one or two days old, and might have been just hours old when he died, weighing 4.3 pounds.  An autopsy showed no physical trauma to his body.  The AJC reported that the infant "appeared to be Hispanic or African American" and died from malnutrition and exposure.

"You can just tell the way that it was left there [out in the open], the person probably wanted someone to find the bag," says Momon.  "It's just unfortunate the child was deceased before someone found the bag."

Momon says with no tips in this case for the better part of a decade, it is very frustrating.  Now, detectives are hoping that someone is ready to come forward.  There is also the possibility that someone might recognize the distinctive duffel with its gold "Star Recognition" logo.  Momon says someone may have heard someone else talk about this incident, or might just finally be ready to tell the police what happened to get it behind them.

"Some time has passed, and maybe the person's conscience is bothering them, you know, 'I want to get this off my chest,'" Momon says.

It is a Crime Stoppers case, and the reward is up to $2,000 cash for information leading to an arrest.  Tipsters can remain anonymous when they call Crime Stoppers at (404) 577-TIPS (8477); go to www.crimestoppersatlanta.org; or text CSA Tip to CRIMES (274637).

leading to an arrest.  Tipsters can remain anonymous when they call Crime Stoppers at (404) 577-TIPS (8477); go to www.crimestoppersatlanta.org; or text CSA Tip to CRIMES (274637).

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