Mom arrested 40 years after Baby Mary's death in NJ park sentenced to 364 days in prison for manslaughter

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES: A mother was arrested for abandoning a one-day-old baby, named Baby Mary, in a New Jersey park on Christmas Eve 1984 when she was only 17 years old.

Prior to her arrest last year, the teenage mother Crumlich had been living an ordinary life with her husband and sons in South Carolina.

Adding context, Baby Mary was discovered by two boys on Christmas Eve morning, still alive when Crumlich wrapped her in a towel and placed her inside a plastic bag.

Following the discovery, the little girl was baptized by Reverend Michael Drury of St Joseph Church, who gave her the name 'Mary', attracting national attention

Prosecutors identified dead Baby Mary’s parents after 40 years

For 40 years, the case of Baby Mary remained unsolved. However, in September of last year, prosecutors surprised the public by announcing they had identified Mary's parents using DNA from her deceased father, who had passed away at 19.

Although Mary's father had died, her mother, Crumlich, was alive and residing with her family.

Crumlich was recently convicted of juvenile delinquency, as reported by DailyMail.

On April 3, Judge Michael Wright sentenced her to 364 days in the Morris County Correctional Facility, followed by two years of probation.

his marked the resolution of a case that had remained unresolved for decades.

With her mother absent, the community ensured that Baby Mary received proper care.

She was laid to rest in the church cemetery and given a headstone inscribed with a Bible quote, "I will never forget you, I have carved you in the palm of my hand."

Father Drury continued to hold a graveside service for the infant every Christmas Eve.

Mother who abandoned newborn baby in Columbia shared a happy life with new family

On her Facebook page, Catherine Snyder-Crumlich depicted her life in suburban Columbia, South Carolina, with her new family. She appeared joyful in photos alongside her husband, David, and sons, Zachary and Noah.

She exemplified a caring mother, consistently present at her sons' baseball games, and weddings, and even offering to babysit for her grandchildren.

Additionally, she was employed at The Crescent Olive, a unique grocery store, where she was seen smiling alongside her coworkers during Christmas in 2018.

However, everything changed when she was sentenced to one year in jail for manslaughter. Last year, she was arrested in South Carolina after prosecutors in Morris County filed charges against her.

DNA testing was utilized to identify Baby Mary's parents. However, her father, who was 19 when she was born, had passed away in 2009. There is no evidence to suggest that he was aware of her existence.

Crumlich pleaded guilty on February 28. The prosecutor stated that her charge would have been second-degree manslaughter if she were an adult.

Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll commended the police and investigators for their diligent efforts in resolving the case.

He emphasized that it took years, stating, "This disposition has been years in the making, across generations of law enforcement who have demonstrated a relentless commitment to justice for Baby Mary."

Mendham Township Police Chief Ross Johnson expressed relief that the mystery was finally solved.

Johnson stated, "I'm proud that we can ultimately bring justice to a baby girl, needlessly abandoned in the woods on a cold winter night."

How did Internet react to death of a newborn baby?

Following the legal outcome concerning the newborn baby, many harshly criticized the mother for abandoning her infant in New Jersey.

One user said, “She is clearly a drinker and I suspect Baby Mary is always on her mind.  Dark life with perfect social media posts.”

Another user added, “She should have had 10 years at least, it was basically manslaughter. It’s a crying shame that she didn’t tell anyone when her baby girl was born.”

One user commented, “She pretended that it didn’t happen. I imagine that it burdened her all of these years to live with her actions.”

Another user wrote, “She was 17. She OBVIOUSLY wasn’t thinking clearly!!!!  She’ll answer to a Higher Power!!”

The last user claimed, “America is such a harsh place. Sentimental, but harsh. I lived in California for a couple of years. That was my impression then.”

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online