Across the ever-evolving landscapes of social media and forensic science, one story stands out for its complexity and shocking revelations: the case known as Baby Garnet, which has connected the dots between DNA ancestry tests and unresolved murder charges. This case, almost three decades cold, recently escalated to new heights when Jenna Rose Gerwatowski, just 23 and relatively unassuming on TikTok, discovered the dark familial secret lurking beneath her ancestry DNA test results.
Truth be told, many of us have dabbled with companies like Ancestry or 23andMe—whether out of curiosity or health concerns. Most of us, upon spitting in the test tube, expect to unearth benign details about where we came from or which world regions we can claim as our own. But for Jenna, what she uncovered thrust her family history squarely onto the frontlines of crime.
Jenna’s story began innocently enough. Inspired by her best friend receiving her own Ancestry DNA kit, she thought, why not? "About two years ago, I watched my best friend get one for Christmas. I thought it was dope and said, 'I need one of those.'" Once she placed her order, Jenna went through the motions without much afterthought. That changed drastically when, more than a year later, she received an unexpected phone call.
On what seemed like just another workday, Jenna picked up the phone and hears what sounded like something straight from the script of a true crime show. It was Michigan State Police. "He said he’d reopened the cold case from 25 years ago and your DNA is a direct match to the victim of this case,” she recalled. Panic hit. Jenna initially thought it was some sort of scam. After all, it’s not every day you hear such shocking news innocently delivered over the phone.
Feeling skeptical, Jenna confided with her mother, who similarly dismissed the news as dubious. Their misunderstanding of the situation, compounded with fear and confusion, pushed Jenna to question the entire format—a strong reaction many would understand. "At this point, I was fully sus about my mom,” Jenna said, recalling how unbelievable it was. It’s how you'd expect people to react when accused of involvement with something as serious as murder. Jenna mentions hanging up on the investigator after he asked for her password. Who wouldn’t?
Yet, the investigator was persistent. A few days later, after much confusion, Jenna's mother and cousin reached out to her, explaining the police had contacted her cousin too about the same case. Upon their swift recommendation, Jenna agreed to allow detectives to run more extensive testing, fully expecting to find nothing. But this time, the results came with explosive revelations.
The investigation unveiled the identity of Baby Garnet, who was born and placed at the heart of this long-forgotten case of suspected murder. The deceased infant’s remains were found back in June 1997 at Garnet Lake Campground—discovered inside a pit toilet, her identity hidden (and perhaps lost) to time. The autopsy revealed she was near term. Shivers ran down detectives’ spines as they reexamined the evidence surrounding Baby Garnet’s birthplace.
Months went by with no answers until, much to Jenna's shock, police confirmed through her DNA results, and those of her mother, the grim truth emerged: Baby Garnet was Jenna's maternal aunt.
What happened next took many by surprise. Nancy Ann Gerwatowski—Jenna’s grandmother—was arrested and charged with open murder, involuntary manslaughter, and concealing the death of the infant. It’s alleged Nancy gave birth to Baby Garnet at home and neglected to seek any medical help, leading to the infant's death from asphyxiation. Nancy reportedly confessed to police and admitted her ties as the mother of Baby Garnet, igniting not just shock but outrage across local communities.
Fast forward to October 2023, and after extensive legal proceedings, Nancy was released on personal recognizance, under the condition of house arrest with GPS tracking. This has led many to speculate about the trail’s direction as the criminal justice system prepares for what could culminate rocketing revelations through the courtroom floors. Jenna, on the other hand, has remained quietly innovative, hinting on another of her viral TikTok videos the public should brace themselves for unprecedented twists.
If these revelations might seem astonishing on their own, then witnessing Jenna experience this life-altering moment is something quite extraordinary. “I’ve never met this woman before,” she stammered during recent talks, speaking about Nancy’s longstanding absence from her life. Yet it’s been “this woman” who has became the central figure of her birthright’s story—from belonging to the villages of her forebearers to being pinned with such damning accusations and consequences. Even the Michigan Attorney General, Dana Nessel, expressed how advancements in technology significantly contributed to solving this age-old crime, reflecting on the challenges investigators faced for many moons.
The case brought forth significant discussions around the ethical uses of DNA testing, raising eyebrows and eliciting various opinions. Commenters binged on internet forums, experts weighed their options against the law, and everyday casual observers began to question if they, too, might stumble upon dark secrets. “Police can absolutely use Ancestry DNA for stuff like this,” Jenna confirmed for the skeptics who doubted. What many didn’t account for was how closely tied technology now works with law enforcement.
“The only other people it could have been was my mom’s mother,” she exclaimed, swimming through the layered connections of relatives and unexpected relationships. There’s no denying the saga has entangled the story of families, bloodlines, and the darkness of family secrets kept hidden for far too long. With such serious charges hanging over her grandmother's head, many wonder if truth prevails or if the lasting connections of blood can rewrite a fate inked with scandal.
More than anything, this case unfurls the nuances of familial ties, with Jenna struggling with the reality of what it means to have biologically pertinent roots now tied to violence and unresolved questions of morality. Will the legal outcomes of the case reveal more hidden truths, or might the circus of emotions around it remain lesser compared to the harrowing realities it exposed? With motions planned for the court hearing, the answers to such questions may slowly unravel as all eyes stay locked upon the legal proceedings transcending through the system. She remains estranged from her grandmother, and for many, it begs the question of where family loyalty truly lies when faced with crime timelines steeped within grief. Many continue to watch with bated breath, awaiting what will come next from the case as it approaches the court system
