54 years ago: Witness says woman known as ‘Carla’ left baby girl with her 3 weeks before baby died

Family of baby girl who died 54 years ago in Detroit still not identified

Detroit police vehicle (WDIV)

DETROIT – The family of a baby girl who died 54 years ago in Detroit still has not been identified.

The baby is believed to have been three to five months old when she died. She had been dropped off at a home three weeks before her death.

The witness at the home told police a woman she only knew as “Carla” dropped the baby off with her. The witness said “Carla” was known to use heroin.

The witness kept the baby girl at her home. She said the baby had cold-like symptoms, including a runny nose and cough.

The witness said she woke up on June 14, 1969, and found the baby unresponsive in her bed.

“Carla” did not return. The baby is described as a Black girl between the ages of three and five months, she weighed 11 pounds.

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About the Author

Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer.

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