After more than three decades, investigators have identified “Baby Hope” and her parents.

The newborn was found stabbed to death in a trash can at Franklin, Indiana’s Temple Park around 5 p.m. on April 13, 1994. Two boys who were gathering recyclables came across her remains and called police.

An autopsy found the baby died from multiple stab wounds; the coroner ruled her death a homicide. Police and the community named the unknown infant “Baby Hope” and donations ensured she received a proper burial and a headstone. Investigators preserved her DNA in hopes that it would one day provide some answers.

For 31 years, no one knew the baby’s true identity or the identities of her parents. In 2025, thanks to advances in DNA technology and the dogged pursuit of investigators, the public finally has some answers.

Police identified the baby’s mother as Cheryl D. Larson. Her husband, however, was not the baby’s father.

Testing and genealogy determined that Paul R. Shepherd was the baby’s biological father.

Franklin Police Chief Kirby Cochran and other investigators revealed the information during a news conference on Monday at Greenlawn Cemetery, where Baby Hope has been laid to rest for the last three decades.

According to police, Shepherd was unaware he was the girl’s father. He decided to name her Hope Shepherd, taking inspiration from the name the community gave his daughter. Police said Shepherd has cooperated with the investigation and submitted a DNA sample.

Cochran said the case was reopened in 2019 so detectives could go through the investigation with a fresh set of eyes. Information from public DNA databases—not private and commercial ones like 23andMe—helped them identify Baby Hope’s biological parents.

“Only data from the users who had given permission for law enforcement matching was used, ensuring respect for their privacy and consent,” said Lt. Chris Tennell, investigations commander for Franklin PD. “No private or restricted genetic database was accessed.”

While that mystery has been solved, several questions remain unanswered and may remain that way. The baby’s mother died in 2018 and could not be interviewed.

Investigators were unable to determine her level of involvement in Baby Hope’s death. For now, there are no criminal charges being brought in the case. That could change if new information comes to light.

“This is not a closed case,” Tennell said. “But we needed to share this information with the community. While we remain deeply saddened by the tragic and unjust loss of Baby Hope, we are grateful to finally achieve some degree of closure after 31 years.”

Johnson County Coroner Mike Pruitt said DNA is a significant piece of the puzzle. However, there are still things about the case investigators don’t know or understand.

“We still have open questions,” Pruitt said. “DNA is not going to answer those questions for us. If this stimulates any information, any thoughts that you can bring to law enforcement to help us bring complete closure to this case, that would be the biggest closing point.”

Tennell, Pruitt and Cochran credited the tireless work of investigators and advances in DNA and forensic technology for Monday’s significant update. 

“I know these are not 100% the answers we wanted,” Cochran said. “But we are here today with some closure for the community.”

The following is a press release written by the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

“Off the Record" Event at the Clinton Presidential Library On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 6 p.m. CT, the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in Little Rock, AR, will welcome Minyon Moore, former Assistant to the President and Director of White House Political Affairs during the Clinton Administration, for an “Off the Record” talk. Moore will go behind the scenes, sharing stories from her time in the West Wing and offering insights into the political strategy, leadership, and legacy that shaped a generation. Register online for your tickets to attend this in-person event. Great Seal of the United States Just a few hours after the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, the first committee to design a seal for the United States was appointed and began its design. After undergoing numerous changes, on June 20, 1782, the seal was officially adopted by the Continental Congress. Apart from slight alterations made by Philadelphian William Barton, and appearance updates every few decades—the Great Seal of the United States remains largely unchanged. Design for the Verso of the Great Seal of the United States. NAID: 595257 Presidential Libraries: Truman Since its opening in 1957, the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, in Independence, MO, has offered a research library and galleries that preserve and share the history of President Harry Truman's life and presidency. Truman personally worked to build the library and maintained an office there, which has been preserved and serves as one of the highlights of the tour. Today, the library helps bring the late President's life and legacy to light for modern scholars and everyday Americans through exhibits and a vast archival collection of documents from the Truman Administration. Now, the National Archives is using technology to bring the President’s history to you! Take a walk through the galleries of the Truman Presidential Library with this virtual tour. President Harry S. Truman personally oversaw the creation and direction of his library and archives. (Photo courtesy of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum)

A new exhibition at Tūranga is aiming to shed light on lost stories from Christchurch’s oldest cemeteries.

Grave Insights: Plotting Lives in Christchurch Cemeteries is part of the regular series Tuakiri Investigates, and runs at Tuakiri | Identity, Level 2 from 14 July – 14 September.

It’s been developed to complement the Christchurch Family History Expo which is being held on the weekend of 2-3 August.

“This exhibition will appeal to anyone who might have spent time meandering in some of the city’s older cemeteries and wondered at the people buried there – who they were and the lives they might have led,” said Acting Head of Libraries and Information, Rosie Levi. 

Using the cemetery plans, and other resources, the Tuakiri team have uncovered some of those lost stories – a grandmother and grandson buried side by side, a soldier buried at sea, and one of the first bell-ringers of ChristChurch Cathedral amongst them. 

John Gunthrip was buried in plot 89C at the Barbadoes Street Cemetery, alongside his second wife Sarah. John was head sexton at the cemetery for many years, having won the position in 1875 from 38 other candidates.

Originally a gardener from Middlesex, John arrived in the city on the Huntress in 1863 and promptly set about proving his horticultural skills, displaying fruit, vegetables and flowers in Christchurch Horticultural Society shows.

He was also among the first bellringers of the newly built ChristChurch Cathedral in 1881. John Gunthrip died in 1916. 

Another story concerns Mary Ann Harvey, who was buried in Rutherford Street (Woolston) Cemetery following her death on 29 February 1917.

Her granddaughter Lillian May Arnold, had died on 22 December 1916 and is buried at the foot of the plot, alongside a memorial to Mary’s son Josiah, who died at sea of influenza somewhere between Sierra Leone and Plymouth on his way to World War II.

Barbadoes Street Cemetery opened in 1851 and closed in 1885. It is the city’s oldest cemetery and final resting place of many of Christchurch’s early citizens, followed by Woolston Cemetery which dates from 1866. 

Visit the Grave Insights exhibition at Tūranga between Monday 14 July and Sunday 14 September to learn more about the lives and deaths of our ancestors. The Family History Expo takes place at Tūranga on the weekend of 2-3 August where there will be further opportunities to learn how to uncover details of the past. 

After more than three decades of preserving the nation’s collective memory, Margot Thomas, Saint Lucia’s first and only National Archivist, has retired, leaving behind a monumental legacy.

Thomas transformed the Saint Lucia National Archives from an idea into a respected institution. She oversaw its formal establishment through government legislation and ensured that it operated in line with international standards.

Researchers were required to follow strict procedures for access, a reflection of Thomas’s commitment to professionalism and preservation. She also fostered a strong internal culture, implementing workplace development initiatives such as a weekly Review, Evaluation and Development session that emphasised teamwork and continuous learning.

Beyond the walls of the archives, Thomas brought history to the people through community outreach efforts, taking educational programmes into public spaces to raise awareness about the value of preserving national heritage.

Thomas had already served in education for 23 years before taking up archival work. “I was given the mandate to set up the National Archives in 1992,” she recalled, highlighting how she advocated for legislation to formalise and fund the institution.

Her tenure was marked by both challenges and triumphs, with financial constraints a constant hurdle. “The government did not put enough money into the archives,” she lamented. But she nonetheless raised the profile of the archives regionally and internationally, representing Saint Lucia and, by extension, small island states, with what she called “enthusiasm and passion”.

“People used to come up to me and say, ‘You’re speaking for us’. And I was,” she told St Lucia Times, reflecting on her legacy of advocacy and representation.

Thomas served on the International Council on Archives and CARBICA (the Caribbean branch of the International Council on Archives).

She even challenged the lack of Caribbean representation in global leadership: “I told them, ‘this is the International Council on Archives, but that’s not reflected at the head table’.”

She recounted moments where international delegates underestimated Saint Lucia’s archival standards. “Some researchers expected to walk in and browse freely,” she said, but under her leadership, the Archives maintained international protocols. “This is not a library; we have strict procedures,” she recalled telling one surprised visitor.

Her work also extended to shaping policy and consciousness around history and education. “We have to teach children our history, not just through colonial textbooks, but as our story,” Thomas said passionately, expressing concern over foreign cultural influence on Saint Lucian youth. She believes national identity must be nurtured through education, culture and values, not just economic metrics.

Now retired, Thomas isn’t slowing down.

She plans to open her own “History House” later this year, combining a museum, educational space and piano bar (with performances by her son, a talented pianist). “History includes the past, present and future,” she said, describing the project as a continuation of her life’s mission.

At heart, Thomas remains a teacher.

“I believe in lifelong learning and lifelong teaching. I may be retired, but I’m not going anywhere. I am a proud Saint Lucian, and I will continue to serve my country.”

According to a Facebook statement by the National Archives Authority, Patrick Freeman was announced as the new National Archivist.

“With over 30 years of dedicated service to the National Archives, Mr Freeman brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and vision to this critical role. We are confident that his leadership will greatly benefit the development and modernisation of the National Archives,” the statement read.

NOTE: Here’s an article that is not about any of the "normal" topics of this newsletter: genealogy, history, current affairs, DNA, and related topics. However, it describes a rather new technology that I suspect will interest many newsletter readers:

The Internet has undoubtedly revolutionized the way we live. It has changed how we work, access information, travel, communicate and interact with each other. Along with it comes a greater level of freedom that we enjoy because of the democratizing and decentralizing information. By doing so, the Internet has opened up far greater debate, analysis, and scrutiny by the general public on matters that impact them and the world. Thanks to the Internet the sphere of influence is shifting away from centralized authorities and the mainstream media.

In our rush to grasp the freedoms offered by the Internet, we have neglected or been made to neglect something just as important: our privacy. As billions of people flock to join the latest social media networks, they fail to realize that they themselves are the actual product behind these new free services.

Incentivized by “free” platforms and peer pressure, parts of the Internet became factories for data collection, with valuable user data and information passed on to the platforms’ real customers — the highest bidder. A few powerful corporations seized large sections of the Internet, harvesting data property that does not belong to them, diluting privacy rights, and opening the doors to censorship.

This centralizing factor, alongside other concerns surrounding accessibility, surveillance, and net neutrality, has led to increased privacy awareness. With this, there’s a rise in the use of VPN, and now DPN, services to deliver a more democratic, private, secure, censorship-resistant, and decentralized Internet of tomorrow.

Decentralized Private Networks (DPNs)

The main difference between a centralized network and a decentralized network is that the latter relies on the service of multiple servers rather than a single master server. In a centralized network, clients can’t act as servers as they require specific hardware and enough computing power to perform the processing.

In a decentralized network, any unit can act as both a client and server, meaning that the workload is distributed among all the network users. Computers today have significantly more computing power than before, and decentralized networks can harness this to render every involved unit a mini-central server, which then can interact with each other quickly and consistently.

A fully decentralized and distributed network, share data ownership and computational power evenly between the participating units. This way, the web can be hosted via a peer-to-peer network with information being distributed and stored all around the world, enabling nodes to communicate with each other without a governing entity.

Similar to VPNs, Decentralized Private Networks (DPNs or decentralized VPNs), also use encrypted tunnels to route web traffic, but they do this over decentralized rather than centralized networks. DPNs are serverless and distributed, ensuring higher security levels such that user data is not logged, hacked, or subpoenaed.

In a decentralized private network such as Deeper Network or Mysterium Network or HOPR, user devices may act as both the client (like individual Internet users) and server (like Amazon Web Services or Google). And the IP addresses automatically change based on their routing rules, establishing tunnels to other nodes all over the world.

Decentralized private networks offer the same basic benefits as VPNs, but with additional advantages that include the negation of a central point of control. This means, there are no central points to attack and the network cannot be taken down. Users also have control over their data as no centralized provider has access to the information they were trying to protect.

With users now more aware of the privacy issues and the problems around centralization of data and information, DPNs are becoming increasingly popular. Innovators in the blockchain and crypto space are already leveraging this demand to offer better protection to the netizens.

For example, one DPN project called Deeper Network combines network security, blockchain, and the sharing economy to create a global peer-to-peer network to offer the same resilience against data theft and censorship as traditional VPNs, only without the need for a central server. The same goes for DPNs like Mysterium Network and HOPR that allow applications, people, and organizations to share information in complete privacy.

Apart from the software solutions of DPNs, there are also hardware devices such as the Deeper Connect that create a private network for users to browse the Internet just like any VPN. However, these hardware decentralized VPNs offer a one-time purchase and no-subscription model. The users of hardware VPN can also share their idle bandwidth with other users and earn a profit for their contribution.

This altogether creates a truly private, more secure, and rewarding network for users to browse the Internet. There’s a great possibility that DPNs will lead the Internet from where it stands today to a point of secure communication space where technology and ethics meet to preserve human dignity, freedom, and independence.

Virtual private networks (VPNs)

I rather like the Wikipedia definition of VPNs:

"A virtual private network (VPN) is a mechanism for creating a secure connection between a computing device and a computer network, or between two networks, using an insecure communication medium such as the public Internet.

A VPN can extend access to a private network (one that disallows or restricts public access) to users who do not have direct access to it, such as an office network allowing secure access from off-site over the Internet.

The benefits of a VPN include security, reduced costs for dedicated communication lines, and greater flexibility for remote workers.

A VPN is created by establishing a virtual point-to-point connection through the use of tunneling protocols over existing networks. A VPN available from the public Internet can provide some of the benefits of a private wide area network (WAN)."

You can read more about VPNs on Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_network as well as on dozens of other web sites.

Private Networks That Are Decentralized

Decentralized Private Networks, sometimes known as decentralized VPNs (often abbreviated to DPN or DVPN), function similarly to virtual private networks (VPNs) in that they transit web traffic via encrypted tunnels over decentralized networks as opposed to centralized ones. Higher security levels are ensured by serverless and distributed architecture, which prevents user data from being tracked, compromised, or subpoenaed.

VPNs are growing in popularity as people become more conscious of privacy concerns and challenges related to data and information centralization. Blockchain and cryptocurrency innovators are already taking advantage of this need to provide decentralized enhanced security for online users.

User devices function as the client (typically individual Internet users) and a server or multiple servers (such as Amazon Web Services or Google or even individual desktop or laptop computers in use in private homes) in a decentralized private network such as Deeper Network or Mysterium Network. Additionally, the IP addresses automatically shift in accordance with their routing rules, creating global tunnels to connect to other nodes.

Similar to virtual private networks (VPNs), decentralized private networks (DPNs) have the advantage of not requiring a central point of control. This indicates that the network cannot be taken down and that there are no central locations to attack. Because no centralized supplier has access to the data that users were attempting to secure, the individual users (clients) also retain control over their data.

For instance, Deeper Network and other DPNs integrate blockchain technology, network security, and the sharing economy to build a worldwide peer-to-peer network that provides the same level of resistance against censorship and data theft as conventional VPNs, but without the requirement for a central server. The same is true with other services that enable total privacy for information sharing between apps, users, and organizations, such as Mysterium Network and HOPR.

Deeper Network and Mysterium and others insure privacy and increase security simply because there is no central organization that can retain records that can be subpoenaed by central governments. Rather than use high-tech language to explain how DPNs work, I will revert to a non-technical explanation:

DPNs work by creating an environment whereby interested users can "meet" and negotiate connection services. It is as if a client in Singapore says "I am available" and a client in the United States says "I am looking for an available client in Singapore." The two clients remain anonymous to each other, then connect and data is exchanged directly between the client in the United States and the client in Singapore" with no other "middleman" involved. The client in Singapore typically provides data from local online connections in Singapore, encrypts it, and then provides that data to the client in the United States. Unlike traditional VPNs, the central DPN organization does not know which clients are communicating with each other and never sees the data being exchanged. Therefore, a central government or any other organization or an individual hacker cannot monitor the connection and cannot later obtain any records of what transpired, even with a subpoena.

In addition to software, there are hardware solutions that, such as Deeper Connect, also establish a private network that allows users to browse the Internet normally through a DPN. These hardware-based decentralized DPNs provide a one-time purchase option without a subscription. Additionally, DPN users have the option to profit from sharing their unused bandwidth with other users.

All of this combines to produce lower costs, more pleasurable, safe, and genuinely private network for Internet browsing. In addition, most DPNs are available either free of charge to the end user or else may be available at greatly reduced charges when compared to traditional VPNs. 

Deeper Network provides FREE networking service (after purchase of the required hardware) while Mysterium costs money but typically at greatly reduced prices when compared to VPNs.

DPNs have a strong chance of guiding the Internet from its current state to a safe communication area where ethics and technology converge to protect individual liberty, freedom, and dignity.

There is an interesting story by Kristina Kaufman available at: https://tinyurl.com/7x27cdzx.

Do you long to find your roots? Wonder where your family tree grew from? Is there a particular branch that calls to you? Maybe just a twig?

The Davis Genealogy Club is proud to host a free workshop in July to help you get going called “Class A: Family History for Absolute Beginners” (day and evening sessions). All are welcome to this free class to learn how, why, and where to get started. The first session will be held in person on Tuesday, July 16, at 1 p.m. in the Valente Room of the Davis Senior Center, 646 A St. in Davis. Drop in and ask your own questions of this panel of experienced researchers from the Davis Genealogy Club!

The same class will be held via Zoom the following Wednesday, July 23, at 7 p.m. Same info, just log on to the Zoom call with Meeting ID # 868 9997 3150  (passcode 20250723 ) or email President@DavisGenealogy.org for the Zoom link. No registration needed, but we will start promptly.

And, yes, there will be a follow-up class next month! “Class B: Basics of Genealogy” will be offered in-person on August 19 at 1 p.m. at the Davis Senior Center, and a matching Zoom class in the evening the following week.  We look forward to helping you get started with this fabulous hobby! Bring a friend and learn together. Visit DavisGenealogy.org for more 

GENEALOGICAL riches from Limerick have been uncovered in the latest release of records from the Virtual Treasury of Ireland. Now included in the 2025 findings is the 1981 Census showing the ‘rateable valuation’ of land across Ireland.

In Croom, farmers paid between £4 and £10, but neighbours in Newcastle West were only taxed between £2 and £5.

The Virtual Treasury has delivered eight local roadshows across the country since 2023, with Limerick to follow next on the list.

The Virtual Treasury of Ireland is now  home to over 350,000 records and 250 million words of searchable Irish history.

The following is a press release from TheGenealogist:

TheGenealogist is proud to announce the release of the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC): Losses Database on its website. This significant collection honours the men and women who served and died while supporting Bomber Command operations.

The IBCC Losses Database includes detailed records of over 67,000 Bomber Command casualties, capturing personal details, aircraft information, missions, and circumstances of death. This fully searchable resource allows family historians, researchers, and aviation enthusiasts to access an unparalleled level of detail about those who gave their lives in the cause of freedom.

The records link on to the IBCC database, compiled from over 6.2 Million pieces of data, giving an incredible amount of information for each individual, often including a photo.

● 67,140 Records

● Covers 1936 to 1968

● Gives over 100,000 names of Parents, Spouses, Siblings and Children

● SmartSearch links to our AIR 27 Operations Record Books (ORBs), which can provide details of the fateful mission where the crew member lost their life

149 Squadron at RAF Mildenhall with a Wellington Bomber

Among the notable entries in the database is Percy Charles Pickard, the legendary RAF officer known for leading the daring Amiens prison raid in 1944. His inclusion in the records offers a poignant reminder of the bravery and sacrifice that marked the RAF’s wartime efforts. You can read his remarkable story here: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2025/target-for-tonight-8696/ 

Mark Bayley, Head of Online Content at TheGenealogist, said:
 "This is a moving record collection that sheds light on those who served in one of the most dangerous roles of the Second World War. We’re making this release free to everyone as a tribute to the Bomber Command staff and crew who paid the ultimate price."

The IBCC Losses Database is now available for free for all registered users. Sign up for your free account at https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/account/signup/

Don’t miss out! For a limited time, you can subscribe to TheGenealogist for just £129.95 - Save Over £100

Not only will you get a lifetime discount, but you'll also receive a 12-Month Subscription to Discover Your Ancestors Online Magazine worth £24.99 and four digital books worth £39.80

Explore these new records and start your genealogical journey today with TheGenealogist by claiming this offer here: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/MGBIBCC25  

Offer expires 11th October 2025.

About TheGenealogist

TheGenealogist is an award-winning online family history website, who put a wealth of information at the fingertips of family historians. Their approach is to bring hard to use physical records to life online with easy to use interfaces such as their Tithe and newly released Lloyd George Domesday collections. 

TheGenealogist’s innovative SmartSearch technology links records together to help you find your ancestors more easily. TheGenealogist is one of the leading providers of online family history records. Along with the standard Birth, Marriage, Death and Census records, they also have significant collections of Parish and Nonconformist records, PCC Will Records, Irish Records, Military records, Occupations, Newspaper record collections amongst many others.

TheGenealogist uses the latest technology to help you bring your family history to life. Use TheGenealogist to find your ancestors today!

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A group of Philadelphia-area historical organizations are pooling their archives into “The Revolutionary City: A Portal to the Nation’s Founding,” a growing collection of original documents that has been digitized, catalogued and made searchable by the public.

More than 6,000 documents with more than 57,000 pages have already been uploaded into the publicly accessible website. The project began a decade ago with three major archives: the American Philosophical Society, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the Library Company. Since then, the cohort has grown to eight members.

Details may be found at: https://whyy.org/articles/revolutionary-city-digital-archive-philadelphia-revolutionary-war/