Investigation determines no crime committed after infant found at Mozingo Lake

By NewsPress Now

After months of investigation, no charges will be handed out after a baby boy was found deceased at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park in May.

The baby was found May 25 in a remote area of the Maryville park by an employee. The city held a memorial on June 27 to honor the baby.

The autopsy and investigation determined there was no evidence of there being a live birth, and the baby was stillborn, according to a release from Nodaway County Prosecuting Attorney Tina Deiter.

A 19-year-old female and 20-year-old male, both of St. Louis, Missouri, were identified as the mother and father, and they cooperated throughout the investigation, the release said. The circumstances were in line with the mother not knowing she was pregnant, the release said.

“There is not any evidence a crime was committed,” the release said. “Instead, this was simply a tragic stillbirth.”

No charges will be filed, according to the release, which specifically says, “The legislature has chosen not to enact any statutes criminalizing the disposal of fetal remains by an individual.”