The Chilling Saga Of "Death In The Bag": 5 Shocking Details From The 31-Year Cold Case That Led To A Life Sentence

The phrase "Death in the Bag" has become a chilling shorthand for one of the most disturbing cold cases in South Carolina history, a decades-long mystery that finally saw justice served. This horrific true crime story involves the brutal death of a newborn baby girl, whose tiny body was discovered inside a discarded shopping bag, igniting an investigation that would span 31 years and rely on the latest advancements in forensic genealogy. The case's resolution, with a guilty verdict handed down in late 2023/early 2024, brought a somber closure to a community that had long mourned the unidentified infant they named "Baby Angel Hope."

The conviction of the baby's mother, Stacy Michelle Rabon, on charges of Homicide by Child Abuse, highlights the relentless dedication of cold case detectives and the power of modern DNA technology to solve crimes once thought unsolvable. The details of the crime, from the method of death to the location of the body, are as shocking today as they were when the case first broke in 1992, confirming the case's grim title—"Death in the Bag"—as a tragically accurate description of the victim's final moments.

The Cold Case Biography: Stacy Michelle Rabon and Baby Angel Hope Timeline

The decades-long investigation into the death of "Baby Angel Hope" culminated in the conviction of her mother, Stacy Michelle Rabon. The following timeline outlines the key events in this tragic cold case, stretching from the infant's discovery to the final sentencing.

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• August 1992: A swimmer discovers the body of a deceased newborn baby girl in the Catawba River, specifically between Rock Hill and Fort Mill, South Carolina. The infant was found inside a discarded bag, later identified as a Sears shopping bag, leading to the grim moniker "Death in the Bag."
• Initial Investigation: The baby's death is ruled a homicide. The community, deeply affected by the tragedy, names the unidentified infant "Baby Angel Hope" and collectively raises funds for her burial in a local cemetery. The case goes cold due to a lack of leads.
• 2021: The York County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit reopens the investigation. Investigators utilize advanced forensic genetic genealogy to re-examine the DNA evidence collected from the scene and the baby's remains.
• August 2021: DNA technology successfully links the infant's DNA to a suspect. Stacy Michelle Costner Rabon, 48 at the time, of Rock Hill, SC, is arrested and charged with Homicide by Child Abuse.
• August 2023: The trial for Stacy Michelle Rabon, now 50, begins in York County court. Prosecutors present evidence, including the DNA linkage, the presence of cocaine in the baby's system, and testimony that the baby was stabbed and suffocated.
• August 11, 2023: The jury returns a verdict of guilty on the charge of Homicide by Child Abuse. The jury is hung on the charge of murder.
• August 23, 2023: Stacy Michelle Rabon is sentenced to life in prison for the death of her newborn daughter, "Baby Angel Hope." Due to the sentencing laws in effect at the time of the 1992 crime, she will be eligible for parole.

The Horrific Details of the Catawba River Cold Case

The true crime story of "Death in the Bag" is one defined by brutality and a shocking lack of maternal compassion. The details revealed during Stacy Michelle Rabon’s trial painted a gruesome picture of the newborn’s final moments, which ultimately led a jury to find her guilty of Homicide by Child Abuse.

The infant, who was born alive, was not only abandoned but subjected to extreme violence. Evidence presented in court indicated that the baby was both stabbed and suffocated before being dumped.

Crucially, the baby was found wrapped in a blanket and placed inside a Sears shopping bag before being discarded into the Catawba River. This discovery is the direct origin of the phrase that has haunted the community for over three decades: "Death in the Bag."

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Furthermore, toxicology reports showed the presence of cocaine in the newborn’s system, a detail prosecutors used to support the charge of child abuse and highlight the mother’s neglect and actions from the moment of birth. This evidence was instrumental in securing the conviction of Rabon, despite the murder charge resulting in a hung jury.

The Role of DNA Technology in Solving the 31-Year Mystery

The "Death in the Bag" case is a powerful testament to the evolution of forensic science. For nearly 30 years, the case remained unsolved, classified as a "Baby Jane Doe" case. The initial investigation lacked the tools necessary to connect the infant's remains to a perpetrator.

The breakthrough came when the York County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit, in collaboration with forensic labs, utilized forensic genetic genealogy. This cutting-edge technique involves uploading the DNA profile of the unknown victim or suspect to public genealogy databases to find distant relatives. By building out a family tree from these relatives, investigators can narrow down the pool of suspects until they identify the likely parent.

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In 2021, this method successfully linked the DNA from "Baby Angel Hope" to Stacy Michelle Rabon. This genetic evidence provided the irrefutable link necessary to secure an arrest and ultimately a conviction, demonstrating how cold cases across the nation are being solved by revisiting old evidence with new scientific methods. The technology effectively closed the gap left open by the initial 1992 investigation.

The Legacy of "Baby Angel Hope" and Community Response

While the legal proceedings focused on Stacy Michelle Rabon, the emotional core of the "Death in the Bag" case rests with the infant victim, "Baby Angel Hope." The community’s decision to name the baby and provide her with a proper burial in 1992 underscored a collective grief and a demand for justice.

The successful conviction, even three decades later, served as a significant moment of closure for the residents of York County and the law enforcement officers who had worked the case over the years. The efforts to identify the baby, referred to as "Baby Jane Doe" in official records, transformed an anonymous victim into a symbol of a life tragically cut short.

The case also serves as a stark reminder of the legal and ethical complexities surrounding infant homicides and the use of safe haven laws. The prosecution’s ability to secure a life sentence, despite the hung jury on the murder charge, was a victory for the persistent pursuit of justice in cold cases. The verdict of Homicide by Child Abuse carries a significant weight, acknowledging the abuse and neglect the newborn suffered at the hands of her mother.

The tragic story of "Death in the Bag" remains a pivotal example of how advanced forensic technology can rewrite the ending of a cold case, ensuring that even after 31 years, the truth can finally be revealed and a victim can receive justice.