The long unsolved case of "Angel Baby Doe," a newborn found abandoned on the side of the road 23 years ago, has finally led to an indictment. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's Office, through the Missing Persons and Cold Case Unit, announced the indictment of Shelby Stotts on counts of 2nd-degree manslaughter. In a statement on July 1, Paxton highlighted the relentless efforts of investigators who have kept this case alive for over two decades. The indictment alleges that Stotts, in November 2001, left her newborn child unattended and failed to provide necessary medical assistance after birth, leading to the baby's death.

Found in a ditch near Briaroaks Road, positioned between Alvarado and Burleson, the body of Angel Baby Doe still had her umbilical cord attached. She was named by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, which has been involved in the pursuit of her identity and seeking justice. According to a news release by the Texas Attorney General’s Office, evidence indicated that the child was alive after birth, placing responsibility on Stotts for her subsequent abandonment and death.

In the search for truth, assistance from the Attorney General’s Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit was enlisted in June 2022 by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, which had pursued leads for years. DNA samples, taken in September 2023 from Shelby Stotts and the infant, confirmed the maternity link between the two. The Office of the Attorney General’s Criminal Prosecutions Division is slated to handle proceedings in Johnson County. With the evidence against her, Stotts faces legal action under the laws in place at the time of the offense.

Prosecuting cold cases imports a measure of closure to lingering questions and provides possible solace to communities haunted by unresolved darkness. "After more than twenty years, we are closer to securing justice for Angel Baby Doe and ensuring that the person responsible for this tragedy is held accountable," Paxton remarked, acknowledging the talent behind the breakthrough. His Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit, established in 2021, is dedicated to working with local law enforcement to solve cases that otherwise may remain shrouded by time's passing veil.