Overview
- Denise Reischhman Merker, 55, was arrested on February 2 and charged with murder in the death of her newborn found in Calverton in 1993.
- Maintenance workers discovered the infant in a garbage bag at a roadside intersection on September 27, 1993, according to court documents.
- Investigators say genetic genealogy was a significant factor in identifying the case after the infant’s DNA profile was added to NamUs last year.
- Merker entered a not guilty plea at arraignment and was remanded to the Suffolk County Jail in Riverhead without bail, with a court date set for March 2.
- Authorities report Merker told police, "I did it. I did everything," and described placing a paper towel in the baby's mouth, while full forensic details have not been released.