In 1985, Rabbit Hunters Thought They’d Found a Doll. It Was a Dead Newborn — and Now a Woman Is Charged

A Massachusetts woman has been charged with murder following the tragic death of her newborn son over 38 years ago. Dianne Curry Peck, 59, from Attleborough, was arraigned on 30 June 2026, after a long investigation led authorities to identify her as the baby’s mother. The case had remained cold since the infant’s discovery in the snowy woods of Mansfield in January 1985.

The heartbreaking find occurred on 26 January 1985 when a father and son, out rabbit hunting, mistakenly thought they had stumbled upon a doll in the snow. Upon closer inspection, they realised it was a lifeless newborn, still attached to its umbilical cord. The infant, who has since been referred to as “Baby Boy Doe,” was discovered lying on its back, with a plastic bag nearby containing remnants of blood and clots.

Kenneth Martin, a Massachusetts State Police trooper at the time, recounted the scene, describing how the baby’s body lay under a thin layer of snow that had been melted by its own body heat. The medical examiner later confirmed that the child had been born alive but died shortly thereafter.

Despite extensive investigations in the immediate aftermath, authorities could only recover minimal evidence, including a sneaker print, a blue fibre, and a strand of light brown hair. The case predominantly went cold until April 2022, when the Bristol County District Attorney’s office began re-examining cold cases from the last four decades.

Utilising forensic genetic genealogy, the FBI succeeded in developing a DNA profile from the baby’s remains, which ultimately pointed to Peck as a likely suspect. At the time of the incident, she was a 17-year-old senior at Mansfield High School. A breakthrough in the investigation occurred in 2024 when investigators linked DNA from a soda bottle found in her household to Peck. When confronted by police in 2025, she confessed to giving birth in 1985 but insisted that she had delivered a girl.

Further inquiries revealed that Peck had concealed her pregnancy from family and friends, stating that she learned of her pregnancy during the summer prior to the birth. She also claimed that after delivering the baby in her ex-boyfriend’s car, she handed the infant to him, believing he would arrange for its adoption. Peck admitted to never speaking to him again after that fateful day.

Speaking about the case, Ted Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston office, stressed the gravity of the situation: “Today is not a celebration. Nothing can restore the life that was lost,” he remarked, reflecting on the lost potential of a child whose life was cut tragically short.

Peck has entered a plea of not guilty and was released on bail following her court appearance, with conditions including the surrendering of her passport. She is now scheduled to return to court on 31 August 2026. The public attention surrounding her arraignment and the case itself remains significant, as it delves into the complexities of a mother’s grief, the consequences of her actions, and the long journey to justice for the infant who never had a chance at life.

The tragic case reflects profound societal questions surrounding teenage pregnancy, mental health, and the dire consequences of secrecy and fear. As the case unfolds in court, many will be closely observing the proceedings and seeking closure for a tragedy that has lingered in the shadows for decades. For now, the search for justice for “Baby Boy Doe” continues.