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Oct. 8, 2024Maryville, Mo. |  By: Jeremy Werner

No charges to be filed in case of fetus found at Mozingo Lake

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MARYVILLE, Mo. - Nodaway County Prosecutor Tina Deiter has determined no crime occurred in the case of a fetus found at Mozingo Lake, calling it a tragic stillbirth.

The body of a deceased male infant was discovered by a park employee on May 25th during routine maintenance. Maryville Public Safety responded, and the investigation revealed that the fetus had died in utero.

A full autopsy, reviewed by the Medical Examiner and a University of Missouri physician, found no signs of a live birth.

DNA identified the 19-year-old mother and 20-year-old father, both from St. Louis, who were visiting Mozingo Lake for an event. They cooperated fully with the investigation.

Deiter noted that Missouri law does not criminalize the disposal of fetal remains, and no evidence of a crime was found. In June, the City of Maryville held a memorial service for the infant at Oak Hill Cemetery.