New pretrial date set for mother of ‘Baby Garnet’ in Mackinac County courts

HUDSON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WLUC) - UPDATE: The mother of ‘Baby Garnet’ will appear again in court in November.

Nancy Ann Gerwatowski, 58, will appear in Mackinac County Circuit Court Monday Nov. 21 at 9 a.m. for a pretrial conference.

She was previously scheduled for a final pretrial conference Sept. 9 at 9:30 a.m.

Gerwatowski is currently being held in the Mackinac County Jail without bond.

Last published: August 10, 2022 2:04 p.m.

The mother of “Baby Garnet” was bound over to Mackinac County Circuit Court on Tuesday.

Nancy Ann Gerwatowski, 58, waived her preliminary exam in district court Tuesday. She is being charged with one count of Homicide-Open Murder.

The case will now go to trial in Circuit Court. No new court dates have been set at this time.

Gerwatowski is currently being held in the Mackinac County Jail and was denied bond.

Last published: July 13, 2022

The mother of “Baby Garnet” was extradited back to the state of Michigan by the Michigan State Police 7th District Fugitive Team.

Nancy Ann Gerwatowski, 58, is at the Mackinac County Jail on a Homicide - Open Murder warrant.

The Mackinac County 92nd District Court was notified of her arrest and of her return back to Michigan. Gerwatowski was arraigned by video Sunday morning on one count charge of Homicide - Open Murder - Felony. She was denied bond and her next court appearance is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 9, 2022, in the Mackinac County 92nd District Court.

Last published: Jul 13, 2022 5:02:53 PM

A 58-year-old woman has been arrested and is currently awaiting extradition back to Michigan for her alleged involvement in what is known as the “Baby Garnet” cold case.

In 1997, investigators from the Mackinac County Sheriff’s Office and Michigan State Police - St. Ignace Post investigated the discovery of an unidentified infant’s remains in a vault toilet at the Garnet Lake Campground in Hudson Township. The baby was eventually named “Baby Garnet” by local officials. Despite an investigation, the infant was never positively identified and the case eventually went cold.

TV6 reported on Sept. 26, 1997, that the Garnet community raised $1,000 to give “Baby Garnet” a funeral, which was attended by 40 people who embraced the child as their own. The report said the baby girl was found on June 26, 1997 and her cause of death was unknown.

In the summer of 2017, however, investigators from the Mackinac County Sheriff’s Office and Michigan State Police - St. Ignace Post reopened the “Baby Garnet” case to review prior reports for any further leads. They decided to use Forensic Genetic Genealogy.

After reviewing DNA, investigators worked with a genealogist who was able to provide family bloodlines. The genealogist was also able to determine the birth mother of “Baby Garnet.”

Investigators identified the mother, a former resident of the Garnet area, who is now residing in the state of Wyoming.

On July 12, 2022, these investigators traveled to Wyoming where they confirmed the woman was the birth mother of “Baby Garnet,” and received additional statements providing probable cause to arrest her on the charge of Homicide-Open Murder.

Additional information will be released after her arraignment. No further information is being released at this time.

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