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Home My WebLink AboutElder chargeTHE STATE OF IOWA Arrest Date: Form Number:1992211457 COUNTYJOHNSON VS. IN THE IOWA DISTRICT COURT IN AND FOR This Complaint and Affidavit is to be: Filed with Court Clerk (cc: CA) Submitted to County Attorney Filed with JCO - Defendant is a Juvenile Hair Color GRAY OR PARTIALLY GRAY - GRY Eye Color HAZEL - HAZ Weight 200 LBS Height 5' 08" Ethnicity NOT OF HISPANIC ORIGIN - N Race WHITE - W Gender FEMALE Date of Birth 10/20/1966 DL RestrictionsDL EndorsementsDL Class F State MO DL# T980168128 Zip Code 65631 State MO City CLEVER Address 1392 ROBINSON RD SuffixMiddle SUE First CINDY Last ELDER OFFENDER Upper Time Range 13:00 Incident Time or Low Range 00:01 Upper Date Range 12/21/1992 Incident Date or Low Range 12/20/1992 Is Date and Time of Incident Known? NO Zip Code 52240 State IA CityAddress Literal Description HEBL AVE Location Type 25 - OTHER/UNKNOWN OtherCivil Damage AssessmentFatal AccidentSerious P.I.Class FELA ZoneinSpeedCrime Description MURDER 1ST DEGREE - 1978 (FELA) Code Section 707.2 County LocalState OFFENSE PARENT/GUARDIAN RELEASED TONO CONTACT ORDER REQUESTED WARRANT REQUESTED SUMMONS TO APPEAR (Citation Issued) CUSTODYTAKEN INTO CUSTODY STATUS OF OFFENDER/JUVENILE Narrative of Offense Committed On or about the above stated date and time, the Defendant did willfully, deliberately, and with premeditation kill another person. NARRATIVE 1992211457IOWA CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT 10:43 AM9/4/2025 21 On December 21, 1992, the body of an unidentified white male baby (BABY JOHN DOE) (BJD) was found at the City of Iowa City, Iowa landfill. An autopsy was performed at the University of Iowa Hospitals &Clinics (UIHC). It was determined BJD was a full-term, well developed white male who did not appear to have any identified congenital anomalies. Extensive blunt force injuries were observed that appeared to be postmortem. The placenta was still attached to BJD and was wrapped around his neck. The cause and manner of death were ruled undetermined as the "lack of known circumstances surrounding the labor and delivery of this infant make it impossible at this time." Investigation revealed BJD'S body had been picked up from trash receptacles at or near an apartment building located at 712 5th Street, Coralville, Iowa. Investigation revealed a maintenance person, who was paid to pick up trash from 712 5th Street, Coralville, Iowa, unknowingly transported the garbage containing the remains of BJD to the landfill. The mother and father of BJD were not identified during the initial investigation. The BJD investigation was reopened in 2020 based on advances in DNA technology.A DNA profile for BJD was developed at this time. CINDY SUE ECKRICH a.k.a. CINDY ELDER, was identified as the mother of BJD. ECKRICH was interviewed by investigators. ECKRICH admitted that she was pregnant in 1992. ECKRICH stated she did not wish to pregnant, nor did she wish to be a parent. ECKRICH stated she took steps to conceal the fact that she was pregnant, and did not reveal this fact to anyone, including the father of the child. ECKRICH stated she never visited a doctor or obtained prenatal care during the pendency of the pregnancy. ECKRICH stated during the course of her pregnancy she punched herself in the belly to induce a miscarriage. ECKRICH stated she gave birth to BJD while in the basement of a residence in Iowa City. ECKRICH stated BJD was born alive and was crying. She did not want the resident of the house to hear the baby crying. ECKRICH stated that in an effort to conceal the fact she had given birth, she "did something" to keep BJD quiet. ECKRICH stated that she then put BJD in a bag. ECKRICH stated she was unsure if BJD was still moving at the time she placed him in the bag. ECKRICH placed the bag containing BJD in the trunk of her car, which was parked outside. On the dates this incident occurred the high temperature was 35 degrees, and low temperature was 0 degrees. ECKRICH stated she transported the bag containing BJD to some outdoor trash receptacles near her father's apartment at 712 5th Street Coralville, Iowa. ECKRICH stated she never told anyone about the birth, death, or disposal of BJD. Investigators obtained ECKRICH'S DNA. Based on the comparison of the DNA profiles of CINDY ELDER (ECKRICH) and BJD the probability of maternity is 99.9999% as compared to randomly chosen untested unrelated women. ECKRICH identified the father of BJD. Investigators located this individual who stated he was unaware ECKRICH was pregnant and had given birth during that time. This individual's DNA was submitted to the DCI Lab and in was determined that probable paternity is 99.9999% as compared to randomly chosen untested unrelated men. The owner of the residence in Iowa City where the baby was born was interviewed and corroborated ECKRICH had stayed in the basement around the time of the incident. The resident stated after ECKRICH left she found evidence in the basement shower drain which she thought was related to a heavy menstrual cycle. Through investigation it was learned ECKRICH admitted giving birth to a live baby boy, placing him in a plastic sack, putting the sack in the trunk of a car, and disposing of the sack in a trash can. This all occurred in the month of December in Iowa. Baby John Doe died as a result of ECKRICH'S actions. ECKRICH is charged with murder in the first degree. COUNTYJOHNSON State all facts and persons relied upon supporting elements of alleged crime AFFIDAVIT STATE OF IOWA, I, the undersigned, being duly sworn, state that all facts contained in this Complaint and Affidavit, known by me or told to me by other reliable persons form the basis for my belief that the defendant committed this crime 60GCOOK, GABRIEL Signature of Complainant or Officer, Officer Name & Number Attempted To Inflict InjuryOther Physical Evidence DNA Operating Motor Vehicle in County Defendant Implicated 03 - ADMISSION/STATEMENTS, 14 - OTHER PHYSICAL EVIDENCE GENERAL PROBABLE CAUSE NotaryPeace Officer Prosecuting AttorneyMy Commission Expires Commission Number Signature of Verifying PartyNotary Name ALEX STRICKER 09/04/2025 COUNTYJOHNSONSTATE OF IOWA, Subscribed and sworn to before me by the person(s) signing the Complaint and Affidavit(s) on 1992211457IOWA CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT 10:43 AM9/4/2025 22