IA IA- Iowa landfill, Iowa City, Johnson County Baby John Doe, # UP117622, December 1992, DNA- Cindy Sue Elder, 58, *Arrest*.

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After 32 Years, Iowa City Baby John Doe (1992) is Identified

Iowa Department of Public Safety and Iowa City Police Department Team with Othram to Identify a 1992 Baby John Doe

dnasolves.com

In December 1992, the unidentified remains of an infant were found by workers who were moving garbage in an Iowa City, Iowa landfill. The Iowa City Police Department responded and began investigating. Investigators determined that the baby was a White male with brown hair and blue eyes. The baby's umbilical cord was still attached and it had not been tied. The baby's placenta was also found nearby. Investigators believe the newborn died 12 to 72 hours before he was found. Despite an extensive investigation by law enforcement, the newborn baby's parents could not be identified. The infant became known as Johnson County John Doe (1992) and details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP117622.''

''A follow-up investigation was launched, which led investigators to a potential parent of the infant. It is now know that Johnson County John Doe was the child of 58-year-old Cindy Sue Elder, formerly known as Cindy Sue Eckrich. Elder was 26 years old when the child's body was found in the Iowa City landfill. She has been arrested on a charge of first-degree murder.

In February 2022, Elder was discovered to be living in Clever, Missouri, according to the Iowa City Police. Investigators spoke with Elder, who admitted to giving birth while living in an Iowa City residence. Elder told police the baby was born alive and it was determined that her actions caused the baby's death. Elder placed the newborn in a plastic sack and deposited it in a trash receptacle in Coralville. The father of the child told police he was unaware Elder was ever pregnant or that she had given birth to a child, which was confirmed by Elder directly.''

 

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Sep 9 2025

‘Didn’t tell anyone she was pregnant’: Woman arrested for murder in 1992 cold case death of her newborn son

A mother in Missouri has been arrested in a 1992 cold case involving the death of her then-newborn baby, according to authorities.

www.ksnblocal4.com

Cindy Sue Elder/Christian County Jail(KY3)

''She then allegedly put him in a plastic bag before putting the bag in a trash receptacle near her father’s home.
Investigators say Elder allegedly told them she “did not want to be pregnant and that she didn’t tell anyone she was pregnant,” including the baby’s father.''

''The Safe Haven Act, which went into effect in 2002, allows parents to give up babies until they’re 90 days old without facing charges.''

 

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Sep. 25, 2025

Woman charged in cold case murder now booked in Johnson County Jail

Cindy Elder is charged with murder in the death of a baby boy found in the Iowa City Landfill in 1992.

www.kcrg.com

"IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) - The former Iowa woman charged with First Degree Murder in the death of a newborn baby boy found in the Iowa City Landfill nearly years ago, is now booked in the Johnson County Jail.

Jail records show 58-year-old Cindy Sue Elder was booked at around 7:15 p.m. Wednesday.''