Authorities in New Hampshire have arrested 26-year-old Hepay Juma on charges of reckless second-degree murder after her newborn baby was found dead in a pond. The infant, referred to as Baby Jane 'Grace' Doe, was discovered floating in Pine Island Pond in Manchester on March 27, 2025. The case, initially deemed suspicious, led to a year-long investigation resulting in the recent arrest.
On March 27, 2025, a woman reported seeing a body floating in Pine Island Pond in Manchester, New Hampshire, prompting a response from the Manchester Police Department. Officers determined the death of the infant was suspicious and estimated the body had been placed in the water sometime between March 25 and March 27. For months, police sought public assistance to identify the newborn, whose real name and cause of death have not been disclosed.
In May 2025, a public funeral was held for the child, named "Grace" by authorities. Manchester Police Chief Peter Marr described the circumstances as poignant, stating, "The way she was discarded is heartbreaking, and it is important that we give her a proper farewell."
The investigation persisted, eventually identifying individuals connected to the infant, including the father. On Thursday, nearly a year after the discovery, the New Hampshire Department of Justice announced the arrest of Hepay Juma, 26, for reckless second-degree murder. The charge alleges she caused the death of her child under circumstances showing extreme indifference to human life.
Senior Assistant Attorney General Nicholas Chong Yen explained the decision, saying, "We felt that there was sufficient evidence to proceed with an arrest for reckless second-degree murder... That means that this was a homicide, that Hepay Juma caused the death of Baby Doe." He noted the baby was a newborn. Authorities have indicated the probe remains ongoing.
