In a significant development on Monday night, Nov 20, 2023, an arrest has been made in connection with the 2004 Baby Hope Medina cold case. Maricela V. Frausto, a 44-year-old resident of Hondo, has been charged with capital murder of a person under 10 years of age, according to Medina County Sheriff Randy Brown.
The arrest comes 19 years, 2 months, and 1 day after the discovery of Baby Hope Medina, the newborn infant girl found dead by a rancher along County Road 448, north of Hondo on September 20, 2004. Sheriff Brown, who was a chief deputy the night Baby Hope was discovered, reflected on the impact of that fateful night.
“It’s just something you don’t forget about,” Sheriff Brown recalled. “I remember us saying a prayer.” He mentioned that he was the one who named her "Baby Hope" out of hope for justice.
Sheriff Brown promised to find Baby Hope’s killer, and advancements in DNA evidence played a crucial role in connecting the dots leading to Frausto's arrest. Frausto, identified as the biological mother of Baby Hope, was apprehended at her sister’s residence on Monday night.
Describing the arrest, Sheriff Brown noted that Frausto remained silent. "Talking was over,” he said. “That opportunity had gone away a long time ago.”
Maricela V. Frausto's bond has been set at $1 million, and she will be under GPS monitoring, according to a news release.
The discovery of Baby Hope Medina on September 20, 2004, shocked the community. A rancher found the newborn girl on County Road 448 near Highways 90 and 173, just north of Hondo, Texas, around 7:00 PM. The infant, born alive according to an autopsy, showed no signs of trauma, and it couldn't be determined if she was alive when placed on the roadside. She was buried in Hondo with over 200 people attending her funeral service.
Sheriff Brown emphasized the enduring impact of the case on the community, stating, “The days, the months, the years, and all the hours spent on this case do not equal the amount of love and compassion the community poured out for Baby Hope Medina.”