JAMESTOWN, N.D. (JPD) – The following is a news release issued by the Jamestown Police Department.
The Jamestown Police Department has continued the investigation into the human fetus remains found on November 4, 2025, in coordination with the Stutsman County Coroner and ND state forensic medical
examiner’s office.
The report of the post-mortem examination by the medical examiner’s office has made several determinations based on medical opinions and observations:
1.) The cause of death of the male human fetus was Intrauterine Fetal Demise associated with double nuchal cord.
2.) The single male fetus was approximately 34 weeks gestational age, based on measurements and characteristics.
3.) The fetal remains were placed in a glass jar with preservative fluid and the glass jar had markings consistent with being manufactured sometime between 1920s-1960s, but more likely between the 1930s-1940s.
4.) No evidence of inflicted antemortem trauma or injury.
Based on these findings and information known in this case, the male fetus would have been stillborn due to complications of the umbilical cord placement while still in the uterus of the mother. It is still unknown why the male fetus was placed in a jar with preservation fluid, at that location. The criminal investigation into this incident is suspended, as the cause of death is a fetal death. However, anyone with further information regarding this case is asked to contact the Jamestown Police Department at 701-252-2414.
For Immediate Release
Date: January 9, 2026
To: News Media
From: Major Justin Blinsky
Assistant Chief of Police
Jamestown Police Dept
701-252-2414
**UPDATE to press release from November 4, 2025: Remains of Fetus located in SE Jamestown**
The Jamestown Police Department has continued the investigation into the human fetus remains found on
November 4, 2025, in coordination with the Stutsman County Coroner and ND state forensic medical
examiner’s office.
The report of the post-mortem examination by the medical examiner’s office has made several
determinations based on medical opinions and observations:
1.) The cause of death of the male human fetus was Intrauterine Fetal Demise associated with double
nuchal cord.
2.) The single male fetus was approximately 34 weeks gestational age, based on measurements and
characteristics.
3.) The fetal remains were placed in a glass jar with preservative fluid and the glass jar had markings
consistent with being manufactured sometime between 1920s-1960s, but more likely between the
1930s-1940s.
4.) No evidence of inflicted antemortem trauma or injury.
Based on these findings and information known in this case, the male fetus would have been stillborn due
to complications of the umbilical cord placement while still in the uterus of the mother. It is still
unknown why the male fetus was placed in a jar with preservation fluid, at that location. The criminal
investigation into this incident is suspended, as the cause of death is a fetal death. However, anyone with
further information regarding this case is asked to contact the Jamestown Police Department at 701-252-
2414.
Original release: Remains of Fetus located in SE Jamestown.
On November 4, 2025 at approximately 2:49 PM a construction company called in to Stutsman
County Dispatch reporting that while on a project they believed they had exhumed the remains of a
human fetus. The company was working in SE Jamestown.
Jamestown Police Officers responded and located what is believed to be intact fetal remains along
with broken pieces of an amber brown glass container. The remains were collected and examined by the
Stutsman County Coroner. The remains are being sent to the Medical Examiner’s Office to gather more
information relating to the case.
Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to call the Jamestown Police
Department at 701-252-2414.