Mom arrested for cold-case murder of newborn left in bag at California dump 30 years ago

A California mom has been charged with murder 30 years after her newborn boy was found dead in a paper bag at a dumpsite, according to the officials. 

Pamela Ferreyra, 60, was arrested Thursday after DNA testing showed she was the mother of the baby found by someone collecting cans in Monterey County in 1994, officials told a press conference.

The dead newborn was only known as “Baby Garin” for the road where he was found — as well as the fact that “Garin means protection,” Monterey County Sheriff Tina M. Nieto said.

“Every child deserves protection and people to advocate and seek justice for them,” she said of finally making an arrest in the 30-year cold case.

Tests have yet to show exactly how old the baby was when he was dumped, and if he was alive or already dead, officials said.

The can collector who found it “opened up that paper bag and discovered something that nobody ever wants to find,” said Andres Rosas, a Monterey County sheriff’s commander.

“If you ask any law enforcement professional, they will tell you that the hardest case to investigate is any involving crimes against children,” Rosas said.

“These are emotional cases that one does not easily if ever forget.”

Ferreyra is an in-home health care provider and the mother of multiple children, local station KSBW-TV reported, without saying exactly how many kids she has.

Ferreyra was arrested at her home Thursday without resistance, and charged with one count of murder.

She is being held on $1 million bail and is expected to be arraigned Friday afternoon.