"Baby Hope" Update: Father of 1991 cold case victim identified, report says
(CBS) NEW YORK - The father of a child, who came to be known as "Baby Hope" after her decomposing body was found in a cooler along a New York City highway 22 years ago, has been identified by the NYPD, according to CNN.
Law enforcement officials told CNN Thursday they are interested in talking to the father, whose name has not been released, but said they cannot arrest him.
CNN reports police believe the father is in New York City, but according to the New York Post, he may be in Mexico.
"Baby Hope" was identified by the New York Post earlier this week as Angelica Ramirez. Her case resurfaced in recent days after authorities announced they identified the mother. The discovery was made after police launched a renewed effort this past July to get people who had information on the case to step forward.
Police handed out posters and flyers featuring a composite sketch of what the child - estimated to be 3 to 5 years old -- might have looked like and offered a $12,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.
As a result, a tip came in from a woman who said she thought she knew Baby Hope's sister and that bit of information reportedly led detectives to the mother of the unidentified child. Law enforcement officials were then able to match the child's DNA.
"A DNA match was made with the mother and the mother has been cooperating," New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said.
The mother, who has not been publicly identified, told detectives an abusive ex-husband had run off with her daughters - Baby Hope and an older girl - in 1990.
The girl was never reported as missing.
