A Connecticut woman has been charged with murder in a case that remained unresolved for nearly eight years after the body of a newborn baby was discovered at a waste processing facility. Authorities allege that Dominique Harrison intentionally abandoned her infant son shortly after birth, leading to an investigation that spanned multiple jurisdictions and remained active for years before an arrest was finally made. The case has now moved into the criminal court system, where prosecutors contend the evidence points to a deliberate act that resulted in the child’s death.
The investigation began in October 2018 when workers at a waste collection center in Stamford, Connecticut, discovered the body of a newborn boy among refuse that had been transported to the facility by a garbage truck. Detectives immediately launched a death investigation and worked to determine where the child had originated. Because the waste had been collected from numerous locations, investigators faced the difficult task of tracing the route of the truck and identifying the area where the infant had first entered the waste stream.
As the inquiry progressed, law enforcement agencies analyzed collection records, interviewed witnesses, and reviewed evidence connected to the disposal route. Investigators eventually concluded that the newborn had originated from Danbury, approximately 30 miles away from the Stamford facility where the body was found. Determining the infant’s point of origin became a crucial breakthrough, allowing detectives to narrow the focus of the investigation and begin identifying individuals who could be connected to the child’s death.
For years, authorities released little public information as detectives continued gathering evidence. According to prosecutors, the investigation ultimately led them to Dominique Harrison. While officials have not publicly disclosed all of the evidence supporting the arrest, prosecutors allege that the newborn was alive when he was placed into a dumpster in a remote location. Authorities contend that the circumstances of the abandonment left the infant with no realistic chance of survival and form the basis of the murder charge now filed against Harrison.
On June 18, 2026, Harrison was arrested and brought before a court for arraignment. During the hearing, prosecutors argued that the evidence would show she intentionally caused the death of her newborn son. Court proceedings revealed that investigators believe additional charges may still be possible as the case continues to develop. Defense attorneys have not publicly detailed their response to the allegations, and it remains unclear what plea Harrison intends to enter.
The lengthy gap between the discovery of the child’s body and the arrest has raised questions about the complexity of the investigation. Authorities have not publicly explained why the case required nearly eight years to reach the point of prosecution. However, cold-case investigations involving unidentified victims, forensic analysis, and the reconstruction of events often require years of investigative work before prosecutors determine there is sufficient evidence to file criminal charges.
Now that charges have been filed, the focus shifts from investigation to prosecution. Detectives who spent years working to identify the child and reconstruct the circumstances surrounding his death will likely play a central role as the case moves through court. For law enforcement, the arrest represents the culmination of a long-running investigation. For prosecutors, the challenge will be presenting evidence that explains what happened to the newborn and proving the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt before a jury.
