June trial set for South Dakota woman in 1981 death of baby
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}This March 8, 2019 bilking photo released by Minnehaha County, South Dakota, Jail shows 57-year-old Theresa Rose Bentaas. The South Dakota woman has been charged in the death of a baby found in a ditch 38 years ago after police said they used DNA and genealogy sites to determine she was the mother. Police in Sioux Falls said Bentaas was arrested Friday, March 8 in the death of the child who'd been dubbed Baby Andrew. She is charged with murder and manslaughter. Police say the baby was alive when he was left in a cornfield ditch near Sioux Falls in 1981. The baby died of exposure. (Minnehaha County Jail via KELO via AP
A June trial date is set for a South Dakota woman charged in the death of a newborn who was abandoned in a ditch in 1981.
Theresa Rose Bentaas was arraigned on murder and manslaughter charges Monday. Bentaas is being held on a $250,000 bond, and has pleaded not guilty.
The Argus Leader reports Bentaas spoke softly when she said she understood the charges against her. A trial date was set for June 10.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bentaas, now 57, was charged earlier in March. Police said they used DNA and genealogy sites to determine she was the mother of the infant, dubbed Baby Andrew.
According to a court affidavit, Bentaas told authorities she gave birth alone in her apartment and drove the baby to a cornfield ditch.
The baby died of exposure.
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Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com