Cold-case arrest in baby found in St. Ignace pit toilet

That evening, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Department arrested Jacob Russell Mckerchie, 28, of Sault Ste. Marie, a couple blocks from the scene; they had been informed a male suspect had fled. Upon his arrest, Mckerchie was also found to have lacerations and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

The woman formerly resided in the Garnet Lake area, Wilk said.

In the summer of the 2017, investigators began reviewing the case and employed forensic genetic genealogy. By working with a genealogist and investigating the submitted DNA, investigators were provided with family blood lines and the name of her likely birth mother, Wilk said.

A worker discovered Baby Garnet on June 26, 1997, while emptying a septic pit at the campground. An autopsy and forensics tests showed the infant had gestated for 38-40 weeks, or about full term.

Police at the time believed the child was placed in the outhouse as early as June 1.

The community raised nearly $1,000 to bury the child in a white casket at Hudson Township Cemetery.