A TikToker has revealed how a DNA test led to the reopening of one of her town's most well-known cold cases - and the arrest of her grandmother.
Like everyone else who signs up with the site, Jenna Rose was expecting to learn a little bit about her family history and possibly even connect with some unknown relatives - but she never could've foreseen what happened.
Not long after conducting the test, detectives from the Mackinac County Sheriff’s Office and Michigan State Police got in touch to say they were reopening the 27-year-old case of Baby Garnet, and that her DNA was a match to a suspect of the case, which turned out to be her maternal grandmother, Nancy Ann Gerwatoski.
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The case, which Jenna says was 'very popular' in the town she grew up in, involves the death of an infant believed to be around 36 to 42 weeks gestational age, who was found deceased, 'in a campground pit toilet at the Garnet Lake Campground in the Upper Peninsula’s Hudson Township', according to the Michigan Department of Attorney General in a press release from May.
The statement goes on to say that police investigated the case all summer, though 'no witnesses or viable leads were developed'.
After a police officer contacted her, Jenna agreed to share her DNA with a worldwide database, which she initially thought was a 'scam', in order to help the detectives with their case.
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Her DNA came back as a 'distant relative' of the suspect, prompting police to ask Jenna's mother if she would also be willing to share her DNA.
It was this that led police to Gerwatoski.
"They ended up finding out that it’s not a distant relative to my mom, but a direct relative, and the only other people it could have been was my mom’s mother," Jenna explained in the TikTok video.
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"They kind of started doing their own investigation and figured out that’s who it was. So we were mind blown."
Despite the familial connection and obvious shock, Jenna revealed that she's never actually met her grandmother.
"Mind you, I’ve never met this woman before. She is literally the f***ing person that they’ve been looking for, for 25 years. And it’s all because of a f***ing Ancestry DNA kit." she said.
According to the police statement, Gerwatoski is alleged to have 'delivered the newborn alone at her Newberry home' during which the baby had died as a result of asphyxiation, with Gerwatoski allegedly not seeking medical intervention for the 'preventable death', leading her to 'conceal the deceased newborn in an outhouse at the campground in Hudson'.
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As per The Independent, additional DNA testing of Gerwatoski obtained through a search warrant confirmed her parentage to Baby Garnet.
Gerwatoski was arrested and charged with one count each of open murder, involuntary manslaughter, and concealing the death of an individual.
The charge of open murder could see her potentially face a life sentence.
According to court records, a hearing is due to take place on December 12 to decide whether a number of factors can be used in the trial, including Gerwatowski’s lack of pre-natal care and abortion consideration, ClickOnDetriot reports.
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It will also cover whether or not to dismiss the concealing a death charge.
UNILAD has contacted Michigan Department of Attorney General for further comment.
Emma Rosemurgey