VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – A cold case just heated up again in Valley City.

On April 15th of 1981 Valley City police officers were called to the 200 block of Viking Drive SW of a report of a newborn female baby that was deceased and left in the underbrush.

Investigators revealed that the newborn child had died from asphyxia after a live birth. No suspect was arrested. The infant was named Baby Rebecca and was buried in a local cemetery.

Police Chief Phil Hatcher said with advancements in DNA technology and the ability to access numerous DNA databases, area law enforcement in conjunction with the Barnes County State’s Attorney’s Office, a decision was made to continue this investigation.

An order for exhumation was signed by Barnes County State’s Attorney Tonya Duffy and Sheriff Randy McClaflin on June 28th, 2019.

On July 18th, 2019 the Valley City Police Department exhumed Baby Rebecca and sent her body for another medical examination by the Medical Examiner’s office in Grand Forks. Biological samples were able to be found. Subsequently, further DNA testing will be done on Baby Rebecca to determine her parental origins.

Chief Hatcher said, “It is hoped that this new information will help bring closure and justice to this 38 year old unsolved case.

Anybody with any information about this case is urged to call the Valley City Police Department at 701-845-3110.