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Keri Mazzuca, the mother who abandoned her newborn, known as "Baby Moses," in Albany's Washington Park nearly three decades ago, will be sentenced today (April 18). Mazzuca pleaded guilty to manslaughter and could face up to 25 years in prison. The case remained unsolved until DNA evidence linked her to the crime last year.
The newborn's body was discovered wrapped in blankets at the base of a statue in 1997, sparking a long investigation. Despite extensive efforts, the case went cold until 2022, when a DNA breakthrough identified Mazzuca as the mother. According to Times Union, Mazzuca admitted in court to suffocating her son shortly after birth and attempting to burn the body to hide evidence.
Mazzuca was originally charged with second-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and concealment of a human corpse. However, she pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter as part of a plea deal. The WNYT reported that she will be sentenced in Albany County Court.
The case has been one of Albany's most haunting mysteries, with the community arranging a burial for the baby, named Moses Washington. Albany County District Attorney Lee Kindlon praised the efforts of detectives and promised to review other cold cases. The sentencing marks a significant moment in a case that has lingered in the community's memory for years.