New Hampshire Woman Charged with Killing 1 Year After Newborn Found in Pool
A New Hampshire woman has been charged with murder a year after a newborn girl was found dead in a lake.
The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office shared a news release on Thursday, February 26, confirming that Hepay Juma he was arrested.
“Attorney General John M. Formella and Manchester Police Chief Peter A. Marr “We have announced that arrests have been made in connection with the suspicious death of a female child who was found dead at Pine Island Pond in Manchester, New Hampshire, on March 27, 2025,” the release said.
The statement went on to share that Juma, 26, “has been arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide for causing the death of Baby Jane ‘Grace’ Doe, her child, under circumstances that show no regard for the value of human life.”
“The circumstances surrounding this incident are still being investigated,” the statement continued. “The charges and allegations against Ms. Juma are just allegations, and she is considered innocent unless proven guilty.”
Juma is expected to appear in court on Friday, February 27, in Manchester District Court, according to CBS News.
It is not yet clear whether he has applied or has a legal position after his arrest. The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office did not immediately respond Us Weeklyrequest for comment.
The arrest came eight months after the funeral of child Jane “Grace” Doe was held in May 2025.
“The way she was disposed of is painful, and it’s important that we say goodbye the right way,” Marr said when the girl died, according to CBS News.
Although it is not clear if the child has ever been given an official name, police decided to call her Grace “to celebrate the kindness shown to her by those who refused to recognize her life,” according to CBS News.
The baby’s body was found in late March 2025 when police responded to a report of something floating in the water. After authorities arrived at the scene, they identified the object as the body of a newborn woman.
“A full autopsy was conducted … While the autopsy revealed some relevant information, further investigations are underway,” police said in a press release at the time.
A Florida woman arrested after allegedly drowning her 7-month-old daughter in a bathtub was ruled “unsound” during the first court hearing in her case, which took place Thursday, January 15. Tierra Scott-Franklin has been formally charged with first degree murder. The judge would not give him bond […]
The baby’s exact age has never been confirmed, although police speculated that he was a newborn at the time of his death.
At the start of the investigation, police said they are seeking “information from anyone who may have seen someone throw something into the water at Pine Island Park between Tuesday, March 25 and Thursday, March 27.”
Police also offered a $5,000 reward for information on the case, although few details emerged in the early months of the investigation.
After Juma’s arrest, Attorney General Nicholas Chong Yen they said authorities “succeeded in thoroughly investigating everything for the last … for now, almost a year, and making sure that no stone was left unturned and following all the investigative leads they had,” according to News 9.
The Attorney General’s Office also confirmed that all those involved in the case have been identified, including the child’s father. However, his identity has not been revealed publicly.
