A woman from upstate New York has been sentenced to 25 years in prison following the death of her newborn, whose body was discovered in Albany’s Washington Park nearly 30 years ago. The case, long considered cold, gained renewed attention when DNA evidence led to the arrest of Keri Mazzuca from Altamont last year.
The 53-year-old, a mother of two, faced charges of second-degree murder and related crimes after being taken into custody by Albany police on September 14. Prosecutors presented evidence showing that Mazzuca was responsible for the death of her newborn, whose remains were found on September 7, 1997, beneath the statue of Moses in the park. The infant was wrapped in a charred cloth, with the umbilical cord still attached, and was determined to have been born alive and healthy.
Dubbed the “Baby Moses” case, the investigation initially stalled due to insufficient evidence. However, in 2020, efforts to solve the case were revitalized in collaboration with the Cold Case Analysis Center at the College of Saint Rose in Albany. Advances in DNA technology allowed forensic specialists to develop a usable DNA profile from preserved evidence, ultimately linking Mazzuca to the crime.
On February 13, Mazzuca entered a guilty plea to charges of first-degree manslaughter and tampering with physical evidence in Albany County Court. She confessed to suffocating her newborn son and attempting to hide his body. During the sentencing, Mazzuca expressed remorse for her actions, describing them as “horrible” and “unimaginable.” She pleaded for leniency, highlighting her law-abiding life and role as a mother.
Nonetheless, Albany County Judge Roger McDonough was unmoved by her appeal, describing the act as a “tragedy beyond measure.” He imposed the maximum sentence of 25 years in prison, reflecting the gravity of the crime. The resolution of this case marks the conclusion of a long-standing mystery that has haunted the community for decades.