Police have announced the arrest of a woman who they say dumped a suitcase with a dead newborn baby inside in a wooded area in Riverwoods, which was discovered by public works employees.
The Riverwoods Police Department responded around 8:20 a.m. on May 5, 2020, to the 1800 block of Robinwood Lane for a report of possible human remains.
Riverwoods Chief of Police Bruce Dayno said at the time that Lake County Public Works employees were conducting routine maintenance when they discovered what appeared to be bones in a wooded area.
Police officers arrived and determined the bones appeared to be of human origin.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office responded and also confirmed the bones appeared to be human, Dayno said.
The coroner’s office worked to conduct a thorough examination of the bones in an effort to obtain further information.
The remains appeared to have been there for an extended period of time, Dayno said.
Coroner’s officials said the remains were found in a suitcase.
Further examination confirmed the remains were those of a newborn infant.
Dayno said a protracted investigation led police to identify the woman who gave birth to the deceased infant.
Natalie E. Schram, 40, of Bellingham, Washington, was identified as the suspect in the case, Dayno said.
Schram is formerly known as Natalie E. Borg and had previously been living in Riverwoods.
The Riverwoods Police Department and the Bellingham, Washington, Police Department executed an arrest warrant for Schram last Wednesday in Bellingham, Washington.
Schram is facing charges in Lake County of two counts of concealment of a death, abuse of a corpse and failure to report the death or disappearance of a child. All charges are Class 4 felonies.
Schram was transported to Whatcom County, Washington, Jail and released on Thursday.
She posted a $250,000 cash bond after agreeing to waive extradition proceedings and turn herself in at the Lake County Courthouse this coming Thursday.
The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information should call 224-284-2332 or email [email protected].