MANCHESTER NEW HAMPSHIRE, A 26-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the death of her newborn baby, whose body was discovered floating in a pond last year.
Hepay Juma was charged with reckless second-degree murder for allegedly causing the death of her infant daughter under circumstances authorities described as showing extreme indifference to human life, according to the New Hampshire Department of Justice.
The arrest comes nearly a year after the baby’s body was found in Pine Island Pond in Manchester on March 27, 2025. A passerby reported seeing a body floating in the water, prompting a response from the Manchester Police Department.
Investigators initially described the death as suspicious and determined the infant’s body had been placed in the pond sometime between March 25 and March 27, 2025. For several months, authorities sought public assistance in identifying the child, who became known publicly as “Baby Jane ‘Grace’ Doe.”
In May 2025, community members attended a public funeral for the infant, referred to as “Grace,” to honor her life.
As the investigation progressed, authorities identified individuals believed to be connected to the child. Officials have not publicly released the infant’s legal name or specific cause of death.
Senior Assistant Attorney General Nicholas Chong Yen stated that investigators determined there was sufficient evidence to pursue a charge of reckless second-degree murder, indicating the case is being treated as a homicide.
Authorities confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing.
