Summary
In October 1987, the body of a newborn baby was found in a plastic bag inside of a Riverside, California garbage dumpster. The dumpster was situated behind a business in the 5400 block of La Sierra Avenue in Riverside, which is located approximately 50 miles east of Los Angeles in California's Inland Empire area. A man rummaging for recyclables found the baby girl, whose death was ruled a homicide by the Riverside County Coroner’s Office. At the time, Riverside Police Homicide Detectives worked diligently to solve the case, but all leads were exhausted, and a suspect was not identified.
In 2020, upon the formation of the Riverside Police Department’s Homicide Cold Case Unit, the investigation into the death of the Baby Jane Doe was reopened. Homicide Cold Case Detectives worked closely with partners on the Riverside County Regional Cold Case Team in their efforts to identify the infant. The Riverside Police Department also teamed with Othram in hopes that advanced DNA testing could help to generate new leads in the case, with a goal of finally identifying the unknown baby girl and the person responsible for her death.
Forensic evidence was submitted to Othram's laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas in November 2021. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown infant. After successfully building the DNA profile, it was delivered to the Riverside Police Department's forensic genetic genealogy team who worked to generate new leads in the case using forensic genetic genealogy.
With these new leads, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the baby girl. Othram assisted with investigators' reference testing efforts using KinSNP® Rapid Familial Relationship Testing, which allows investigators to infer kinship in closely and distantly related individuals. These efforts led to the identification and arrest of the infant's mother, 55-year-old Melissa Jean Allen Avila. Avila was 19-years-old at the time of the baby’s death. Detectives do not believe the infant’s father had any criminal culpability in the murder.
Riverside Police Department detectives worked with the Department’s METRO Team, which participates in the U.S. Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force. With assistance from the U.S. Marshals Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force, Ms. Allen was located in Shelby, North Carolina. She was arrested for murder and extradited back to Riverside County, California to face prosecution. On August 5, 2024, Avila was booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility, where she remains on $1,100,000 bail.
The casework costs associated with advanced DNA testing performed by Othram was provided by Season of Justice, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing funding for investigative agencies and families to help solve cold cases and bring resolution to those impacted by unsolved violent crimes. If you have additional information regarding this homicide and arrest, please contact the Riverside Police Department Homicide Cold Case Unit at 951-320-8000 or HomicideColdCase@RiversideCA.gov.
The arrest of Melissa Jean Allen Avila represents the 45th case in the State of California where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Most recently in Perris, California, Jackie Danette Ebel, whose remains were discovered in 1988, was identified after nearly four decades.
Michael Vogen
Director of Case Management
Michael works with law enforcement agencies throughout the United States and Canada on “unsolvable“ cases that can benefit from advanced DNA testing methods. He helps these agencies use cutting edge DNA sequencing and new forensic techniques to develop investigative leads for their cases.