Cheryl Larson Obituary-Death News; Franklin Police Identify Parents of ‘Baby Hope’ After 31 Years
More than 30 years after a newborn baby girl was found stabbed to death and discarded in a Franklin, Indiana trash can, police have identified her biological parents.
The infant—long known to the community as “Baby Hope”—was discovered by two boys in a trash receptacle in Temple Park in 1994, her death leaving the city shaken and authorities searching desperately for answers.
Now, thanks to advancements in DNA technology and genealogical research, investigators have identified the mother as Cheryl Dawn Larson, who passed away in 2018, and the father as Paul Shepherd, who says he was unaware that Larson had been pregnant.
Though no one has been charged and the case remains open, officials hope this development will finally bring some resolution to a case that has haunted Franklin residents for decades.
Franklin Police Chief Kirby Cochran acknowledged the emotional toll the case has taken on both the department and the broader community. “This case has always stayed with this department,” he said in a press conference.
“While these aren’t all the answers we hoped for, we’re grateful to offer some resolution after so many years.” According to investigators, Paul Shepherd was contacted after police reopened the case in 2019 and used public DNA databases to track potential familial matches.
When approached, Shepherd fully cooperated with authorities and provided a DNA sample that confirmed his paternity. Deeply affected by the discovery, Shepherd chose the name Hope Shepherd for the child he never knew he had.
Police say that while Shepherd has been ruled out as a suspect and had no knowledge of the pregnancy or the baby’s birth, the grief of learning what happened to his daughter has been overwhelming.
“This has really affected his health,” Cochran said. “It’s something he continues to struggle with every day. He can’t stop thinking about what happened to his child.” The identity of Cheryl Dawn Larson adds a new but still incomplete chapter to the investigation.
Larson died in 2018, meaning police were unable to question her about what occurred. Her death leaves a significant gap in the timeline, and authorities say they still don’t know who was responsible for the baby’s death or the exact circumstances leading up to it.
The baby, discovered by two young boys in 1994, had been stabbed and discarded, sparking widespread outrage and sorrow throughout the city. With no way to identify her, the police and community dubbed her “Baby Hope,” a name that symbolized a yearning for justice and remembrance.
The community later came together to give the infant a proper burial at Greenlawn Cemetery, where a headstone still marks the place of mourning for many who never forgot her story.
Johnson County Coroner Mike Pruitt emphasized that while DNA testing has provided key answers, many questions remain. “DNA is not going to answer everything for us,” Pruitt said.
“We need people to come forward. If this case jogs any memories or information, we ask that you contact law enforcement. Any new detail—no matter how small—could bring us closer to full closure.”
Police stressed that while Larson is deceased, charges remain a possibility if further evidence or witness testimony becomes available. “This case is still very much under investigation,” Cochran stated. “There is more we need to learn, and we are not giving up.”
The identification of Baby Hope’s parents is a bittersweet milestone in a case that has endured in the hearts of many. For decades, she was nameless, voiceless—a tragic symbol of abandonment. Today, she has a name, Hope Shepherd, and a father who mourns her deeply.
As the investigation continues, the Franklin Police Department urges anyone with information about Cheryl Dawn Larson, the circumstances of the pregnancy, or the events surrounding the infant’s death to come forward.
“Hope deserves the full truth,” Chief Cochran said. “And we owe her that.”
