Defense seeks dismissal of manslaughter charges in Winona’s “Baby Angel” case

WINONA, Minn. (KTTC) – The woman accused in Winona’s 2011 Baby Angel cold case appeared in court Tuesday for the first time since she was initially charged in April 2025.

Jennifer Baechle is charged with two counts of second-degree manslaughter.

According to investigators, in September 2011 a baby was found floating in the Mississippi River near Winona. The baby was found in a bag with angel figurines.

In April 2025, investigators used forensic genealogy to determine Baechle as the baby’s biological mother.

In court Tuesday, the judge ruled to seal photos and videos that could be used as evidence during a potential trial. The judge decided to leave the autopsy report unrestricted for public access.

Baechle’s defense attorneys allege the state has not met its probable cause for the manslaughter charges.

Defense attorneys called Dr. Lindsey Thomas to testify. Dr. Thomas worked as Chief Medical Examiner for the Regional Medical Examiner’s Officer in 2011. Dr. Thomas also performed Baby Angel’s autopsy as requested by Winona County.

Dr. Thomas told the court she could not determine the baby’s cause of death or whether the baby died before or after child birth.

Dr. Thomas noted there was no food found in the baby’s stomach and no external injuries. The medical examiner noted the baby was a term newborn, meaning roughly 40 weeks. She continued to explain she was unable to determine if the baby was still born or died after birth.

During the internal exam, Dr. Thomas noted she found evidence of bleeding on the scalp and skull. Dr. Thomas noted the hemorrhaging did not appear to be life threatening, but said the skull was “abnormally thin”. The doctor even theorized the ceramic angles found inside the floating bag could have also been the cause of a head injury. The head injury could have also happened during child birth, according to Dr. Thomas.

As far as the umbilical cord, Dr. Thomas said it appeared to be cut with a sharp object and not by a professional.

Dr. Thomas also shared air was found in the lungs of Baby Angel. The air could be from several different sources. According to Dr. Thomas, the people who found Baby Angel attempted to resuscitate her, which could have caused air in the lungs. The air could also be from decomposition or even the birth process.

State prosecutors stated they would not be giving any more public comments on the case. Defense attorney also declined to provide a comment.

According to the Winona County Sheriff’s Office, in 2011 Baechle lived out of her car in the Winona area. Baechle has lived continued to live in Winona. Baechle was employed at Winona State University at the time of her April 2025 arrest.

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