Jane Doe

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

Georgia Bureau Of Investigation (GA)

Recovery Location:

Douglas, Georgia

Summary:

A newborn female infant was found dead in a toilet at Holiday Beach campground in Douglas, Coffee County, Georgia, on July 31, 1982. The child, whose identity remains unknown, was fully developed with an intact placenta and umbilical cord. An autopsy determined the cause of death was drowning classified as homicide.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Recovery:

On July 31, 1982, Baby Jane Doe was found in a toilet in the South bath house of the Holiday Beach campground in Douglas, Coffee County, Georgia. Her head was submerged in the water of the toilet. Also found inside the toilet was an intact placenta. Investigators with the GBI were called by local law enforcement around 7:00 a.m. after a person walked into the south bath house at the campsite and discovered a white female infant, fully developed, submerged in the toilet, lifeless. Her head was immersed in the water, while the umbilical cord and placenta remained intact. The exact delivery time remains uncertain, but investigators speculate that she was born just hours before they were called, likely between 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m.

Additional Details:

An autopsy later revealed that the manner of the baby's death was drowning, with the cause determined to be homicide. The autopsy report also revealed there were no signs of physical trauma. On August 18, 1982, "Coffee County Baby Jane Doe" was laid to rest in a paupers' grave at the Douglas City Cemetery. In 2022, the presumed remains of the baby were exhumed for DNA testing. However, given the circumstances surrounding her burial, further testing is required to establish the identity of the remains with certainty. Investigators are currently awaiting those results. Despite the challenges surrounding this case, Seacrist emphasized that the investigation, in addition to all of their other cold cases, remains open and ongoing. The GBI diligently reviews all of their cold cases every quarter, with agents meeting to examine every case file. Investigators have continued to reach out to individuals who were camping at Holiday Beach during the weekend when the homicide took place, including recent follow-ups. Seacrist closed, "Someone is out there who knows something. Someone confided in them about this baby and what happened on July 31, 1982, or they knew someone who was 9 months pregnant, and the next day she wasn't, and it just never sat right with them. Someone out there knows what happened or has information, and we hope they come forward - for this baby."

Case Last Updated:

Apr 28, 2026