Arizona Woman Charged with Newborn’s Murder Decades Later
A 65-year-old woman from Arizona has been charged with the murder of her newborn, a case that has remained unsolved for nearly 45 years. The baby’s remains were discovered on a college campus in North Dakota back in 1981. Recent DNA testing confirmed her as the mother.
Nancy Jean Trottier was taken into custody on April 7, suspected of murdering a baby she named “Rebecca.” The infant was found at Valley City State University, situated around 100 miles from Bismarck, North Dakota, according to reports.
At the time of discovery, the newborn was placed into a plastic bag, with the umbilical cord still attached.
Trottier attended the university from 1978 to 1982 and is accused of suffocating the baby. An autopsy indicated that the child was alive at birth, and the injuries were consistent with asphyxiation.
The investigation had remained cold for decades until advancements in DNA technology allowed authorities to reopen the case in July 2019. They exhumed the baby’s remains as part of their renewed inquiry, as detailed in an affidavit.
By August 2020, a genetic genealogy report pinpointed possible relatives using DNA taken from the newborn, leading investigators to identify Trottier as a suspect.
During an interrogation in October 2021, Trottier reportedly expressed uncertainty, saying, “Maybe it was me,” and consented to provide a DNA sample.
In December 2021, authorities also collected DNA from her husband. The results, returned in June 2023, revealed that the baby was incredibly likely—3.481 million times more so—to be their biological child compared to any other potential parents.
Add to that, DNA matching Trottier’s profile was found on tissue paper from the scene back in 1981.
Trottier, residing in Sun Lakes, Arizona, recently made her initial court appearance in Barnes County, North Dakota. She’s facing Class AA felony murder charges, the most serious classification in the state, risking a life sentence without parole if convicted.
Following the announcement of the charges, residents of Valley City visited the grave of Baby Rebecca. Community members expressed a sense of relief that this long-standing unsolved case was finally moving forward.
“I was in high school when this occurred,” recalled resident Lance Peterson. His family was involved locally, and he noted he felt relief about the case’s current developments. “It’s been a long ordeal, but now we can find some closure.”
Trottier’s preliminary hearing and arraignment are scheduled for May 21, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.
