Update: Arizona woman suspected of 1981 murder of infant found in Valley City

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (KVRR) – An Arizona woman has been arrested for the 1981 murder of “Baby Rebecca.”

Sixty-five-year-old Nancy Jean Trottier is charged with murder.

Court documents say that on April 16, 1981, the body of an infant girl was discovered in the wooded area of the Valley City State College campus.

An autopsy report indicated the infant had been dead for approximately 24-72 hours. It was believed that the infant was suffocated shortly after birth.

Attorney General Drew Wrigley said it has taken a long time for several investigators over more than four decades to make an arrest.

“It’s remarkable when you think back 45 years, to the day actually,” Wrigley said. “Forty-five years to the day. It’s been a long road to justice for baby Rebecca.”

Valley City Police Lt. Dana Rustebakke credited several former police officers who worked trying to locate the individual responsible for the death of the child, known as “Baby Rebecca.”

“Some of the investigators were – I mean they were hitting a dead end and didn’t think this would ever be solved,” Rustebakke said.

I know there’s people in the community that think this would never be solved, so I’m glad we’re to this point.”

Trottier remains in the Stutsman County Correctional Center in Jamestown. A judge set Trottier’s bail at $2 million bond or $750,000 cash.

Trottier’s next court appearance is set for May 21.