In September 1993, maintenance workers in New York made a horrific discovery. They found a newborn baby girl dead inside a garbage bag on the side of Calverton Road in Eastern Long Island. The baby reportedly had paper towels stuffed in her mouth, and police quickly ruled her death a homicide. It took nearly 33 years, but investigators say 55-year-old Denise Reischman Merker confessed to the brutal killing after being arrested on February 2, 2026. But when it came time to plead her case, Merker said she’s not guilty.
The Riverhead News-Review reported that an employee from the Department of Transportation found the 7-pound, 4-ounce baby girl on September 27, 1993. Her body was inside a bag on the westbound shoulder of Route 25 near Wading River-Manorville Road. The infant’s umbilical cord was reportedly still attached, and paper towels filled her mouth.
The Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the infant died by homicidal suffocation. She likely had been dead for a few hours to a few days, according to News-Review archives.
According to court documents obtained by News 12, Merker told investigators, “I did it. I did everything.” She reportedly admitted in a recorded interview to putting the paper towels inside the baby’s mouth when the infant began crying. Prosecutors have not yet revealed what evidence led to Merker’s arrest.
The story shocked News 12 viewers, who had a lot to say in the comment section on the outlet’s social media post.
“Hope she gets a paper towel in her mouth and a wooden broom handle well you know where until she bleeds,” one person wrote.
Others encouraged moms to safely surrender their babies.
“If you don’t want your baby there are so many places you can leave them- NO questions asked,” another comment reads. “Fire stations, police stations, hospitals- just walk in. As an RN I’m telling you, we will take the baby from you. It’s ok.”
“Terrible. My guess would be exhaustion. Exhaustion can make you do some pretty dumb things,” another person wrote. “No excuse, just my best guess as to what happened.”
We can’t imagine living with that kind of secret for more than three decades. Merker, who pleaded not guilty, is due back in court on March 2, 2026.
