Angel Baby Doe breakthrough as mother of newborn found dead in Texas cow pasture is arrested after DNA linked her to decades old cold case

Texas law enforcement have announced a major breakthrough in the case of 'Angel Baby Doe,' a newborn who was found dead in a cow pasture more than 20 years ago.

Shelby Stotts, 48, has been arrested for allegedly leaving the baby girl to die on the side of the road in November 2001, after new DNA evidence confirmed she was the child's mother, the Texas Attorney General's Office of Missing Persons and Cold Case Unit announced Monday.

Prosecutors say Stotts, a paraprofessional at Cleburne High School, recklessly caused the girl's death by abandoning her, failing to give her medical care and failing to clamp the child's umbilical cord - which caused the young girl to bleed to death.

The young girl's body was ultimately found on November 18, 2001 in Johnson County by a man identified by police as Johnny Riddle, WFAA reports.

Shelby Stotts, 48, was arrested Monday for allegedly leaving her baby girl on the side of the road to bleed to death

Riddle had been picking up cans in the area when he noticed the newborn wrapped in a jacket with the umbilical cord still attached, according to Fox 4 News.

He then called local police, who collected evidence from the scene including a smashed key fob, a spit cup and a Coke bottle in hopes of one day securing DNA.

For years, the DNA evidence turned up dead ends.

But in 2021, the Johnson County Sheriff's Office sent the forensic evidence to Othram - a lab in The Woodlands that specializes in solving cold cases.

That lab was able to develop a DNA profile for the infant, and by September 2023, the State Attorney General's Office was able to identify Stotts as the child's mother.

Other evidence also suggested that the baby - whom police dubbed 'Angel Baby Doe' was alive and breathing at the time of her birth, the Dallas Morning News reports.

'Angel Baby Doe' was found in November 2001 wrapped in a jacket with the umbilical cord still attached

'After more than 20 years, we are closer to securing justice for Angel Baby Doe and ensuring that the person responsible for this tragedy is held responsible,' Attorney General Ken Paxton said.

'I am thankful for our investigators' talent and tenacity, and I comment the law enforcement professionals with the Johnson County Sheriff's Office for their dedication to uncovering the truth.'

Stotts was ultimately booked into the Johnson County Jail on Monday, and will be prosecuted under the laws that were in effect in 2001. 

No bond had been set for Stotts as of Tuesday morning, and it was unclear if she had retained an attorney to speak on her behalf.

Meanwhile, the Cleburne Independent School District announced she was no longer working at the high school.

'Cleburne ISD takes these allegations very seriously,' district officials told Fox 4, adding that it 'intends to follow board policy and state law, and investigate the matter thoroughly.'