Skip to content

Mom arrested for cold-case murder of newborn left in bag at California dump 30 years ago

Pamela Ferreyra https://www.ksbw.com/article/mother-arrested-california-1994-monterey-county-live-homicide-newborn/62642166 https://www.facebook.com/pamela.ferreyra.31 Monterey County Sheriff's deputies have arrested a Watsonville woman for the murder of her newborn son, whose body was found 30 years ago along Garin Road in the Las Lomas area. Pamela Ferreyra, 60, was charged with one count of murder and is being held at Monterey County Jail.  Investigators said it was DNA evidence that led to her arrest. Ferreyra is accused of dumping her newborn son on the side of Garin Road. The baby, known as Baby Garin, was found stuffed in a grocery bag by a man collecting aluminum cans. "He opened up that paper bag and discovered something that nobody ever wants to find," said deputy spokesperson Andy Rosas. "When the person looked inside, they discovered the deceased baby boy's body." Investigators determined that Baby Garin was born alive, but an autopsy could not reveal the cause of death. A criminal complaint alleges that the baby, identified as John Doe, died on or between Nov. 1, 1994, through Dec. 3, 1994. "If you ask any law enforcement professional, they will tell you that the hardest case to investigate is any involving crimes against children," said Rosas. "These are emotional cases that one does not easily, if ever, forget." The case remained unsolved for three decades until it was reopened last year. Advances in DNA technology provided the breakthrough investigators needed.

Pamela Ferreyra, 60, was arrested Thursday after DNA testing showed she was the mother of the baby found by someone collecting cans in Monterey County in 1994, officials told a press conference.

The dead newborn was only known as “Baby Garin” for the road where he was found — as well as the fact that “Garin means protection,” Monterey County Sheriff Tina M. Nieto said.

“Every child deserves protection and people to advocate and seek justice for them,” she said of finally making an arrest in the 30-year cold case.

Tests have yet to show exactly how old the baby was when he was dumped, and if he was alive or already dead, officials said.

The can collector who found it “opened up that paper bag and discovered something that nobody ever wants to find,” said Andres Rosas, a Monterey County sheriff’s commander.

“If you ask any law enforcement professional, they will tell you that the hardest case to investigate is any involving crimes against children,” Rosas said.

“These are emotional cases that one does not easily if ever forget.”

Ferreyra is an in-home health care provider and the mother of multiple children, local station KSBW-TV reported, without saying exactly how many kids she has.

Ferreyra was arrested at her home Thursday without resistance, and charged with one count of murder.

She is being held on $1 million bail and is expected to be arraigned Friday afternoon.

Advertisement

Today's News.
For Conservatives.
Every Single Day.

News Opt-in
(Optional) By checking this box you are opting in to receive news notifications from News Rollup. Text HELP for help, STOP to end. Message & data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Privacy Policy & Terms: textsinfo.com/PP
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.