CUMBERLAND COUNTY, N.C. — Authorities in North Carolina say they've solved a 20-year-old cold case by tracking down a woman accused of killing her newborn son and dumping his body in 1999.
The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that it charged 54-year-old Deborah Riddle O’Conner with first-degree murder Thursday.
Investigators alleged she gave birth to the baby just one day before he was placed in a trash bag and tossed from a car south of Fayetteville.
DNA was recently sent to a lab for testing, and detectives used the results to locate O'Conner.
The sheriff said she admitted to being the boy's mother. She was set to appear in court Friday.
O’Conner’s husband, Charles O’Conner, said Cumberland County deputies came to their Morganton home and arrested his wife.
“She's a beautiful woman,” O’Conner said. “I can not stand that mugshot that they've got of her. I can't stand to look at it because that's not the Debbie I know.”
O’Conner said he knew nothing about this crime when he met his wife about 10 years ago.
"I’m not saying she hadn't done it. I’m not taking up for her,” he said. “My wife has got some very serious mental problems.”
He said his wife needs psychiatric help, and the sheriff's office isn't helping her.
He plans to stick with her through this case.
"I’m really hoping and praying that I’ll get to see her free,” he said. “I really am because Cumberland County, they're out for a witch hunt.”