Birth mother of "Baby Garnet" charged with murder

Public Radio 90, WNMU | By Nicole Walton

Published August 4, 2022 at 9:24 AM EDT

HUDSON TOWNSHIP, MI— A 58-year-old woman has been extradited from Wyoming to Mackinac County in connection with the death of a baby in 1997.

Police found the remains of an infant in a vault toilet at Garnet Lake Campground. The infant was nicknamed “Baby Garnet.”

The case went cold until 2017, when genetic genealogy led officials to the birth mother. She’s identified as Nancy Ann Gerwatowski—maiden name Niskala.

The Michigan State Police 7^th District Fugitive Team brought Gerwatowski back to Michigan on July 30. She was arraigned Sunday on a charge of homicide-open murder. She remains lodged without bond in the Mackinac County Jail.

Gerwatowski’s next court appearance is set for Tuesday in Mackinac County District Court.

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Nicole Walton

Nicole was born near Detroit but has lived in the U.P. most of her life. She graduated from Marquette Senior High School and attended Michigan State and Northern Michigan Universities, graduating from NMU in 1993 with a degree in English.

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