DNA points to accused as mother of dead babies found in Winnipeg storage locker

WINNIPEG – DNA evidence suggests a woman accused of hiding the remains of infants in a storage locker she was renting could be their mother.

Andrea Giesbrecht, who is 42, was charged with concealment in October 2014 after employees at a Winnipeg U-Haul facility made the discovery.

Court has heard that DNA samples from the remains were compared to samples from Giesbrecht’s husband and a used sanitary napkin found in her bedroom.

DNA expert Christine Crossman testified it was “very likely” the husband and whoever used the sanitary napkin were parents of five of the six babies.

She also said they are probably the parents of the sixth as well.

The defence is arguing the DNA on the napkin may not actually belong to Giesbrecht.

Court heard earlier Wednesday that medical records show Giesbrecht had at least 10 legal abortions. Defence lawyer Greg Brodsky said they occurred over a 17-year period from 1994 to 2011. Two were in 2009.

The medical records filed by prosecutors also show Giesbrecht’s husband had a vasectomy in 2011.

No one has been able to say how long the remains found in the storage locker may have been there or how they got there. It’s alsounclear how the information about the abortions relates to the remains.

A police officer told court on Tuesday that the locker contained two plastic tote containers and three pails, each containing human remains in different stages of decomposition.

(CJOB)