NEWS

Fetus, not newborn, left in Barton County pond, autopsies show

Giacomo Bologna
GBOLOGNA@NEWS-LEADER.COM
Ozarks News

The dead body of what appeared to be a newborn baby has puzzled and captivated the Barton County community ever since it was found in a pond there last month, officials say.

While the case remains, in many ways, a mystery, one detail has come to light: The baby was stillborn.

That was confirmed by two independent forensic exams, the Barton County Coroner said.

Dr. C. Tucker Joustra explained that because it was not born alive, the fetus was never legally a person.

Disposing of fetal tissue is not a crime, but the case will continue to be investigated regardless, said Barton County Sheriff Mitchell Shaw.

"We want answers — we want to know what happened," Shaw said. "I've been in office for eight years and I've never had anything like this."

His office has fielded about 250 calls regarding the mysterious body and every conceivable lead has been followed, Shaw said.

Still, basic questions remain unanswered.

Who put the fetus in the pond? How was the pond — located on a piece of remote, private property — accessed? And why would someone dispose of a fetus like this?

Joustra, the coroner, does know roughly when the body was disposed of.

The fetus was discovered by a local resident on July 11, and Joustra said the body's decomposition showed it had been in the pond for about three days.

He surmised that whoever left the body must have had knowledge of the property and pond. He said that the area is not easily accessible and a gate to the land is only ever open during hay season.

Joustra said he did not know what would motivate someone to leave the 4-pound, 4-ounce fetus in the pond.

Neither did Shaw. But the sheriff said there's likely a mother and father that need help.

"My guess is that there's someone hurting real bad out there," he said.

Shaw said he wants the parents of the unborn child to know that counseling is available and there are ways to help them.

The community still wants closure, too, he said. People have made quilts and little dresses for the unborn female, Shaw said, and a memorial service is likely to be held.

Rep. Mike Kelley, R-Lamar, said several residents had reached out to his office about naming the fetus, explaining that the discovery of the body "shocked everyone."

"They just feel like the child deserved a name," Kelley said, adding that he agrees it should be named.

A few weeks ago, Kelley said he attended a candlelight vigil at the pavilion by the Barton County courthouse where more than 100 people paid their respects to the unidentified body.

He said he can't remember any incident in Barton County like this and that nothing about disposing of the stillborn infant in a pond makes sense.

"I think the police are still baffled," Kelley said.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Barton County Sheriff's Office at 417-682-5541.