A woman from Manchester, New Hampshire was arraigned on Friday morning, Feb. 27, 2026, in connection with the death of her newborn daughter, whose body was found floating in Pine Island Pond nearly a year earlier — a case that captured widespread attention and led to an extensive 11‑month investigation.
Hepay Juma, 26, is facing charges of reckless second-degree murder for allegedly causing the death of Baby Jane “Grace” Doe under circumstances showing extreme disregard for human life, according to New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella. Juma waived her arraignment in Manchester District Court and did not appear either in person or virtually.
The infant’s body was discovered around 4 p.m. on March 27, 2025, by a passerby near Pine Island Park, a peaceful spot near Manchester-Boston Regional Airport with trails and a playground. Police were alerted about an object floating in the water, which turned out to be the body of a newborn girl. Investigators concluded the baby had been in the pond no more than two days, meaning she was placed there between March 25 and March 27, 2025. After an autopsy, the death was immediately ruled suspicious, with homicide listed as the cause though the exact method remained undetermined.
Senior Assistant Attorney General Nicholas Chong Yen praised Manchester police for their extensive efforts, noting that investigators were “tireless in terms of tracking every lead and following up on information provided by the public.”
The case garnered broad community interest as authorities worked to determine the baby’s identity. Manchester Police Chief Peter Marr issued a public plea shortly after the discovery, asking anyone who might have seen unusual activity near the pond to speak up. Police sought reports from anyone who might have observed someone throwing an object into the water during the three-day period in late March. By April 2, roughly 50 leads had been submitted, but investigators still had not identified the baby or her parents.
Authorities initially offered a $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest, later increasing it to $5,000 on April 15. Manchester police, along with the New Hampshire State Police K-9 Unit, conducted multiple searches of the park in the days after the discovery, combing the shoreline and surrounding areas for evidence.
With no immediate identification, Manchester police named the baby Grace, honoring the compassion shown by those who refused to let her death go unnoticed. A detective in the Juvenile Division created a tribute portrait — an artist’s rendering of the infant. On May 12, 2025, a public funeral was held at Connor-Healy Funeral Home on Union Street, bringing together community members, officials, and strangers to mourn a child they had never met.
Inside the funeral home, Baby Grace lay in a small white casket surrounded by pink and white flowers. A Manchester police officer in full dress uniform stood watch. Mourners came forward to pray for the unidentified infant whose brief and tragic life had touched the community. “The way she was discarded is heartbreaking,” Chief Marr said. “It is important that we give her a proper farewell.” Baby Grace was buried at Saint Joseph Cemetery in Bedford.
Prosecutors have withheld specific details about how investigators identified Juma or the baby’s exact age, referring to her only as a newborn. The police affidavit remains sealed. The father has been identified, but authorities are not releasing his name or any other personal information. Many aspects of the incident remain under active investigation.
Juma, who most recently lived on Ahern Street in Manchester, is still in custody. She is being represented by public defender Maya Dominguez. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on March 5, 2026.
The case has renewed focus on New Hampshire’s Safe Haven Law, which was expanded in September 2024. The updated law allows a parent to anonymously surrender a newborn up to 61 days old — an increase from the previous seven-day limit. Babies can be surrendered at any hospital, police station, or fire station at any time, or at a church during posted hours, without parents needing to share identifying information. The law also includes protections ensuring that evidence obtained solely through the surrender process cannot be used to prosecute the parents.
The arrest follows months of detailed investigative work by Manchester police and the Attorney General’s Office. Authorities are asking anyone familiar with Juma or who has information relevant to the case to contact the Manchester Police Department Tip Line at 603-716-7236. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the Manchester Crimeline at 603-624-4040.
