Arizona Woman Charged in 45-Year-Old Cold Case Murder

Nancy Trottier accused of killing her newborn infant in 1981 in North Dakota

Apr. 14, 2026 at 4:54pm

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An extreme close-up of a small baby shoe, its worn leather texture and faded color illuminated by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the tragic loss of an infant's life in a cold case murder investigation.A haunting relic from a decades-old cold case murder investigation exposes the tragic loss of an innocent life.Valley City Today

Police have arrested a 65-year-old Arizona woman named Nancy Trottier on murder charges in a 45-year-old cold case. Trottier is accused of killing her newborn infant in 1981, whose body was discovered in a wooded area of the campus of Valley City State College in North Dakota that April. An autopsy found the infant had been alive at birth and died from suffocation.

Why it matters

This case highlights the persistence of law enforcement in pursuing justice for cold cases, even decades later. It also raises questions about the circumstances and motivations behind the alleged crime, as well as the long-term emotional toll on the families involved.

The details

According to police, the infant's body was found with a plastic covering over her face and her umbilical cord still attached. Trottier is scheduled to appear in Barnes County court for a preliminary hearing and arraignment on May 21st.

  • The infant's body was discovered in a wooded area of the Valley City State College campus in April 1981.
  • Trottier was arrested and charged with murder in this cold case in April 2026.

The players

Nancy Trottier

A 65-year-old Arizona woman who has been charged with the 1981 murder of her newborn infant.

Valley City State College

The college campus in North Dakota where the infant's body was discovered in 1981.

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What’s next

Trottier's preliminary hearing and arraignment is scheduled for May 21st, where a judge will decide whether to allow her to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This cold case arrest demonstrates the ongoing commitment of law enforcement to pursue justice, even decades after a tragic crime. It also highlights the emotional toll that such unresolved cases can have on families and communities.