Woman sentenced in 1997 death of newborn

Описание: A Seattle woman was sentenced Friday to five years of community custody after pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter last year for leaving her newborn son in a trash can at a Lake City gas station in 1997, where he was found dead.

Christine Warren, 52, was arrested in 2021 after DNA obtained through an undercover operation matched DNA found at the gas station in 1997.

Warren's sentencing hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m.

On Nov. 20, 1997, police were called to the gas station in the 8700 block of Lake City Way Northeast after the child was found inside a restroom by the store clerk, according to court documents.

The King County Medical Examiner determined the child was born alive, however, the cause of death remained undetermined. The case was investigated as a homicide.

Police received security camera footage from inside the Chevron. A photo of the suspect was shared with local media, but they weren't able to positively identify her, according to court documents.

Police began re-investigating the crime in 2018 and sent the DNA sample to a private lab for DNA genotyping. The lab entered the sample into GEDMatch, a public genealogy website, and experts were able to compile a database of individuals who submitted their DNA that was possibly related to the newborn's mother.

Detectives were able to identify Warren as a possible suspect. Then, in November 2020, detectives sent Warren a fake invitation to participate in a flavored-water beverage survey which included a gift card. Warren returned her response to the survey in a provided envelope to a P.O. Box rented by detectives.

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