the case of Keri Mazzuca.
On September 7, 1997, city workers discovered the body of a healthy, 9-pound, 3-ounce newborn wrapped in charred cloth near the Moses statue in Albany’s Washington Park. Mazzuca, who was 25 at the time, gave birth in a bathtub. During later interrogations, she confessed to placing her hand over the infant’s nose and mouth for several minutes until he stopped breathing. She then placed the baby in a bag, brought him to the park, and set the cloth on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence and fingerprints. The case eventually went completely cold for more than two decades.
The breakthrough came in 2020 when the Albany Police Department partnered with the Cold Case Analysis Center at the College of Saint Rose.
Forensic Technology: Using advanced forensic DNA testing through Othram and FBI genetic genealogy, investigators developed a usable DNA profile from the preserved 1997 evidence.
Identification: The profile pointed directly to Mazzuca as the biological mother. Investigators also interviewed the biological father, confirming he had never been informed about the pregnancy.
Arrest and Sentencing (2024–2025)
Arrest: Mazzuca was arrested on September 6, 2024—nearly 27 years to the day after the baby was found.
Guilty Plea: In February 2025, she pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and tampering with physical evidence.
The Sentence: On April 18, 2025, Albany County Court Judge Roger McDonough handed down the maximum sentence of 25 years in state prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision.
During the sentencing, Mazzuca asked for leniency, stating that she lived with intense regret and had otherwise lived a law-abiding life. Judge McDonough rejected the plea, emphasizing the ultimate responsibility she bore for the life that “Baby Moses” was never permitted to live.
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