Arrest made in 1979 cold case of newborn found at Columbus County landfill

WHITEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- Nearly five decades after a newborn baby girl was found dead at a Columbus County landfill, authorities have made an arrest.

The sheriff's office said the baby's mother, Cathy McKee, was arrested and charged with concealing the birth of a child. She was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon.

This case dates back to 1979. Deputies found the body of a baby inside a trash bag at the Columbus County landfill. They conducted an extensive investigation at the time, but with no clear leads and limited forensic technology, the case eventually went cold.

Over a year ago, the case reopened after a detective conducted a renewed review of the evidence using DNA collected at the time. It ultimately led them to McKee.

"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. 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," Sheriff Bill Rogers said.