NORFOLK, Neb. -- Authorities said they have identified the mother of a baby boy whose body was found in the Elkhorn River in 2004. 

The Norfolk Police Division said that on June 17, 2004 around 6:20 p.m., they were called to the Norfolk Fork of the Elkhorn in the 200 block of N First St. 

NPD said they had recovered the body of a deceased newborn baby boy from the river. 

At the time of the discovery, an autopsy was done on the full-term baby, but was inconclusive as to whether or not the baby was alive before being found. 

Police said that during the investigation, a DNA sample from the baby was compared to several people without success. 

NPD said a second sample and DNA profile had been kept for later investigations. 

Over the years, NPD said the case had been revisited several times to determine if new information or technology that was available was able to further the investigation. 

In March of 2023, Norfolk Police said they partnered with the University of Nebraska Medical Center DNA lab to do a genealogy investigation to help identify the mother. 

Authorities said that UNMC along with United Data Connect - an investigative genetic genealogy service - were able to successfully identify the possible mother. 

NPD said Norfolk detectives traveled to where the identified mother lives, and with the help of additional local, county, and state law enforcement officers, they found and spoke with the woman. 

The mother reportedly told police that she was a juvenile and at home when she gave birth to the baby. 

NPD said she told them the baby was stillborn, and she later disposed of the baby in the river. 

The woman provided a DNA sample, and police say, this confirmed that she was the mother of the infant.

Officials said that a second person was identified as being aware of the circumstances, and they were interviewed. Police said the person was aware of the pregnancy and the stillborn baby. 

NPD said that any misdemeanor crime committed in this case has passed the statue of limitations, and there is not enough evidence for any other prosecution. 

The Norfolk PD said they will continue to investigate and review any information in this case as well as the paternal connections to the baby.