Jenna Gerwatowski, 23, was shocked when her recreational DNA test unraveled a decades-old murder mystery and implicated her grandmother in the tragic death of a baby nearly 30 years ago.
DNA Kit Sparks Investigation
Jenna decided to take a FamilyTreeDNA test after her friend received a similar kit for Christmas. She wasn’t expecting any major revelations. However, soon after submitting her DNA, she got a surprising call while working at her local flower shop in Newberry, Michigan.
The call was from a Michigan state police detective who asked her, “Have you heard of the Baby Garnet case?” The detective revealed her DNA was linked to the unsolved 1997 case of a deceased infant found at Garnet Lake Campground, an area familiar to Jenna.
Case Reopened Through Forensic Advances
The Baby Garnet case had gone cold after initial investigations failed to identify suspects. But advancements in DNA technology allowed investigators to extract genetic material from the infant’s remains in 2017. This reopened the case and eventually led to Jenna, whose DNA revealed she was the half-niece of Baby Garnet.
Jenna recounted the moment to CNN: “Your DNA was a match,” she remembered the detective saying, which connected her family to the infant’s remains.
Skepticism Turns Into Shock
Initially, Jenna’s mother, Kara Gerwatowski, dismissed the call as a scam. A similar incident had targeted Jenna’s grandfather. When Jenna was later contacted by forensic genealogist Misty Gillis from Identifinders International, the skepticism only deepened.
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Jenna recalled, “She asked for my FamilyTreeDNA password to upload my data into another database, but I refused and hung up. I thought it was a bizarre scam.”
Days later, Kara called Jenna home urgently. Sitting with Jenna’s cousin, they shared more about the Baby Garnet investigation. Jenna’s DNA showed her mother, Kara, was the half-sister of Baby Garnet. Kara then pointed investigators to her estranged mother, Nancy Gerwatowski, saying, “If it’s going to be anybody, it would be (her) mother.”
Arrest of Nancy Gerwatowski
Investigators ultimately charged 62-year-old Nancy with open murder, involuntary manslaughter, and concealing a death. Prosecutors allege that in 1997, Nancy delivered the newborn alone at her Newberry home, where the baby died of asphyxiation. Court filings state that Baby Garnet’s death could have been prevented with medical attention.
Nancy’s defense, however, disputes these claims. They argue the baby was stillborn after a difficult delivery. Nancy reportedly gave birth unexpectedly while in the bathtub, becoming unconscious during labor. Legal filings state she later placed the deceased infant in a bag and left it at the campground in a state of shock.
A Complex Legal Battle
Nancy’s defense team contends there is no evidence proving Baby Garnet was born alive. They also argue that her statements during police interrogation should be inadmissible, as she was denied legal counsel. The prosecution counters that Nancy’s comments about considering abortion and avoiding prenatal care provide insight into potential motives.
Judge Brian D. Rahilly is expected to decide by year’s end whether the charges will proceed.
A Family Torn Apart
For Jenna, the discovery has been traumatic. She said, “I grew up knowing about the case my whole life and then come to find out it was my grandma that did it?” Adding to the emotional strain, Kara had not spoken to Nancy since she was 18.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Jenna stated, “It’s been very hard, traumatizing, and nerve-wracking. I’ve never met this woman, so it’s hard to grasp that concept, but it’s even harder for my mom because that was her mother.”
The case serves as a stark reminder of the unexpected consequences of recreational DNA testing, with one family’s dark history coming to light nearly 30 years later.