TO CLOSE

Theresa Rose Bentaas, 57, was arrested Friday morning after police determined by DNA that she was the baby's mother Andrew.
Makenzie L Huber, leader of Argus

SIOUX FALL, S.D. – Thirty-eight years after the burial of a baby found dead in a ditch, Sioux Falls police made an arrest.

Theresa Rose Bentaas, 57, was arrested Friday morning after police determined by DNA evidence that she was Baby Andrew's mother, said Detective Mike Webb, retired Sioux Falls.

The case has pierced the city for decades. The baby was alive when it was placed in a ditch in a cornfield in what was then a rural area, in Sioux Falls, and "slowly succumbed to sight".

Bentaas was charged on Friday with first-degree murder, second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, Webb said. It is held with a deposit of $ 250,000.

The police were able to obtain Andrew's DNA after exhumed the body 10 years ago. Thanks to the current genealogy sites, the police could create a family tree. Other research in the birth certificates and marriage certificates led them to Bentaas, where a DNA sample provided by means of a search warrant determined that she was the mother, said Webb.

More: He threw a paper towel. The police used it to accuse him of murder in 1993

Theresa Bentaas (Photo: Minnehaha County Prison)

According to the affidavit, Bentaas stated that she was "young and stupid". She said that she was pregnant in 1980-1981 and hid the pregnancy from her friends and family.

Bentaas admitted to having the child alone in his apartment, then took the baby to the place where he was later discovered. She chose it because of its "proximity", according to the affidavit.

Bentaas saw Baby Andrew's coverage on the news, but said she "denied being responsible for this situation."

When asked if she thought about it when she was going to the area, she replied "of course," wrote the affidavit.

Webb said that Andrew's father, Dirk Bentaas, was not being charged in this case. The couple has two adult children alive.

"I could not be more pleased with the results of today, the arrest and closure we found, and the hard work and dedication Andrew has shown in getting justice, "said Chief Matt Burns.

In most cases, Webb said that he could assure the family members of the victim that he was working on the case and that he would find a solution or a way to help him. To lighten their burden. This case was different since the family was the person who committed the crime.

But Webb said that he remained fair to the baby Andrew.

"I think his voice has been heard," said Webb.

How the case has been resolved

Police recently connected Andrew's baby DNA and a distant relative who was using a DNA-based genealogy product.

Webb opened the case in the spring of 2009 and exhumed Baby Andrew's body in September 2009 to extract DNA from his bones and tissues. Andrew's baby remains were sent to a laboratory at the Science Center of the University of North Texas.

His body was reentered in June 2010.

After the DNA profile did not find a match in the South Dakota DNA database, Webb turned to Parabon Nanolabs Inc. The private genealogy company found possible genetic matches and the Webb's team created a family tree that led to Bentaas' mother.

Inspector Patrick Mertes went to the Bentaas and proceeded to a "waste extraction", where he used containers of beer and water and cigarette butts to extract the fruits. 39; DNA. The items were sent to the South Dakota Forensic Laboratory for testing.

In an interview with the police on February 27, Dirk Bentaas admitted to seeing Theresa "having a lump and then no lump" around the time he was found.

"(Dirk) Bentaas admitted to hearing about the discovery of (baby Andrew) but did not believe the defendant was capable of committing such an act," reads the affidavit.

Webb said that he had received confirmation that Dirk and Theresa Bentaas were the baby's father and mother on Monday.

Haunted city case for decades

The killing of baby Andrew has puzzled the police and has haunted some residents for decades.

It's the tormented man who has found the lifeless child, the frozen tears on his cheeks, and who continues to visit his grave.

On February 28, 1981, Lee Litz saw a red cover as he slipped into the passenger seat of a friend's new jeep.

Litz asked his friend to park to pick up the blanket in a ditch and found the lifeless newborn swaddled inside.

The newborn still had the placenta attached and, next to the child, was a woman's underwear, a shirt and a tissue paper with blood on them, according to the affidavit.

A witness questioned at the time described a light-colored vehicle parked in the area "with a woman's legs hanging and blankets on the ground at that time".

At that time, Litz knew the baby was dead, but he still thought the paramedics could revive him. He rushed to a friend's house nearby and called the police.

(Photo: Joe Ahlquist / Leader Argus)

Baby Andrew would be the same age as Litz's daughter. He wondered what would become of baby Andrew if he had seen her earlier in the ditch.

"I would certainly have adopted it rather than seeing him die like this," Litz said in an interview with Leader Argus in 2017.

Litz still visits the baby's grave. The same goes for Litz's daughter, Crystal Oestreich, who leaves flowers and stockings to animals to someone she considers her big brother.

Two days after the funeral, Litz was reminded of hearing about a baby that had been dropped off in front of a local fire station. He regretted that baby Andrew did not have the same luck.

"Seeing a child thrown out like that – how could anyone do that," Litz said. "Someone escaped with the murder."

Dozens of people gathered for funerals

Baby Andrew was buried in St. Michael's Cemetery. The secrets of his death were buried with him for 38 years.

Police have attempted to link the baby's DNA to potential parents in 2017, but his efforts have been in vain. Police have released new photos of Baby Andrew's discovery at the crime scene in 2018, hoping that someone presents and identifies Baby Andrew's parents.

About fifty people attended Baby Andrew's funeral more than a week after his discovery.

The children left lint next to the tiny coffin, and a gold-plated pin was attached to his yellow pajamas simply saying "You're loved"

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