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Government

Murder Charge in 22 Year Old Case

WVIK Staff

Biological evidence may help find the killer of a baby who's body was found in Moline 22 years ago. First degree murder charges have been filed - not against a person - but against a DNA profile - in the case of Baby April who was born and died in April of 1992.

Rock Island County State's Attorney John McGehee says the profile from the state police crime lab is an important first step in trying to solve the case. No matches have been found yet, but more testing will be done on other evidence from the scene by a lab at the University of North Texas. 

Credit WVIK Staff
Moline Detective Mike Griffin and Rock Island County State's Attorney John McGehee

But before that happens, he hopes someone with information will come forward - either by calling the Moline police or Crimestoppers.

Baby April was born on April 11th, 1992, and her body was found the same day, in a bag, along the Moline riverfront. Donations from police and local businesses paid for a funeral and burial in Riverside Cemetery. 
McGehee says other Illinois counties have filed charges against DNA profiles, and sometimes been successful in eventually finding the person responsible.

A native of Detroit, Herb Trix began his radio career as a country-western disc jockey in Roswell, New Mexico (“KRSY, your superkicker in the Pecos Valley”), in 1978. After a stint at an oldies station in Topeka, Kansas (imagine getting paid to play “Louie Louie” and “Great Balls of Fire”), he wormed his way into news, first in Topeka, and then in Freeport Illinois.