Woman charged in 1991 cold case pleads not guilty

Attorney says client 'is in fact not guilty' of abandoning infant in dumpster

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A 55-year-old woman named Jennifer Cummins has been charged with murder decades after the death of an infant found abandoned in a dumpster on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University in 1991. Cummins was arrested in Virginia last month after DNA evidence linked her to the case. Her attorney says she is not guilty and that the baby was stillborn, not abandoned.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges of prosecuting decades-old cold cases, especially those involving complex forensic evidence. It also raises questions about the rights of the accused and the presumption of innocence, even in disturbing cases involving the death of a child.

The details

Cummins was arrested in Fairfax, Virginia last month after a Madison County, Kentucky grand jury indicted her on charges related to the 1991 death of an infant known as 'Baby Jane Doe.' The infant was found by a sanitation worker in a dumpster on the Eastern Kentucky University campus. Police say the infant was alive and healthy before being placed in the dumpster. However, Cummins' attorney, Brad Clark, says Cummins maintains the baby was stillborn and that she is 'in fact not guilty' of any crime.

  • In 1991, the infant's body was found in a dumpster on the Eastern Kentucky University campus.
  • Last month, Cummins was arrested in Fairfax, Virginia in connection with the 1991 case.
  • Cummins was arraigned on the charges on Thursday, February 12, 2026.

The players

Jennifer Cummins

A 55-year-old woman charged with murder in the 1991 death of an infant found abandoned in a dumpster. Cummins was arrested in Virginia last month after DNA evidence linked her to the case.

Brad Clark

The attorney representing Jennifer Cummins, who says his client is 'in fact not guilty' and that the baby was stillborn, not abandoned.

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What they’re saying

“Wait for all the evidence, not just what they've heard, not just charges on a piece of paper, but for the evidence to come out.”

— Brad Clark, Cummins' attorney

“As a father myself I think this you know it's it's tough for all of us to see her prosecuted.”

— Brad Clark, Cummins' attorney

What’s next

Cummins' pre-trial conference is scheduled for March 19 at 1:30 p.m. She is being held in the Madison County Detention Center on a $1 million bond.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complexities of prosecuting decades-old cold cases, where the reliability of forensic evidence and the rights of the accused must be carefully weighed. It also underscores the emotional toll such cases can take on all involved, including the families and communities affected.