Richard's headstone in Cortland Rural Cemetery
/ photo: Jessica Cain
CORTLAND -- In Cortland Rural Cemetery, a small headstone marks baby Richard's final resting place.
Police say in 1992, someone delivered Richard, left him in a trash can outside of a store in Riverside Plaza, and left. A worker found the baby and called police.
Cortland Deputy Police Chief Paul Sandy was a patrolman at the time. He says when he heard about the baby found in Liverpool, he thought of baby Richard.
"The child is a human being and was treated with such indignity," says Sandy. "I think it compelled people to give this child a final resting place."
Community members and the Police Benevolent Association joined forces to give baby Richard a headstone and proper burial.
Now, almost 19 years later, the case is still open. Police have followed up on numerous leads over time, but those leads never lead to an arrest.
However, police are taking advantage of advances in technology. In 1992, DNA testing was in its early stages, but in 2007, police submitted evidence to the state DNA banks. They're hopeful a match will be found soon.
"I just hope that whoever is responsible is thinking about it," says Sandy. "Maybe, after 20 years, maybe they'll do the right thing and come forward and let us know why they did something like this."
He says police are willing to follow up on any viable leads in the case. If you have any information, police are asking you contact them at (607) 753-3001.
