A North Carolina couple has been arrested after DNA linked them to the remains of an infant found in a trash can three decades ago.
On October 21, Nags Head Police arrested 54-year-old Scott Gordon Poole and 51-year-old Robin Lynn Byrum for concealing the birth of a child. They are currently incarcerated in the Dare County Jail in lieu of a separate $250,000 bond. Additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues to progress, according to Nags Head Police.
The remains of an infant were discovered in a trash can rack in Nags Head on April 4, 1991. Police could not identify the gender of the baby due to decomposition. Nags Head continued to investigate the crime over the years with small windows of success on a periodical basis.
In 2019, North Carolina law enforcement sent over a bone to a Texas lab that specializes in DNA identification. The lab utilized the DNA from the bone to create a genealogical profile that traced back to Poole and Byrum, leading to their eventual arrest.
"The tragedy of this child's death and the manner in which his body was disposed of is compounded by the fact that, until now, no one has been found responsible for this incredibly heartbreaking act," Nags Head Police Chief Phil Webster said in a statement.
"But through the hard work of Nags Head Police investigators and our law enforcement partners in the case, those who did this will be held accountable for a death that has remained unsolved for three decades," he said.
In a statement sent to Newsweek, Nags Head Mayor Ben Cahoon said that the couple's arrest is a result of "many years of diligent investigation by our highly-trained and dedicated law enforcement professionals."
"While they are responsible for responding to accidents and crimes, they must also defend the innocent. This is a true example of that. The Board and I appreciate their diligence in working to solve this crime," Cahoon said.
In North Carolina, a 21-year-old woman was recently arrested after she allegedly stabbed her one-year-old daughter in front of a responding police officer.
On October 11, Cierra Dyer of Greenville was involved in an alleged verbal dispute with a family member over the custody of her daughter, according to the Greenville Police Department.
Once police arrived, they allegedly saw Dyer stab her daughter numerous times in the back. She dropped the knife as authorities arrested her. The toddler is expected to make a full recovery.
Update 10/26/2021, 6:09 p.m. ET: This article has been updated to include a statement from Nags Head Mayor Ben Cahoon.
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