Woman’s Ancestry DNA Test Leads to Grandmother’s Arrest for 27-Year-Old Murder Mystery
Unexpected Discovery: DNA Test Solves a Cold Case
A woman was left shocked after a routine ancestry DNA test ended up solving a 27-year-old murder mystery—and led to the arrest of her own grandmother.
Jenna Rose Gerwatowski, a TikTok user known as @jennarose, shared her incredible story in a viral video, revealing how her ancestry test unexpectedly linked her family to a long-unsolved crime. The video has garnered over 15.3 million views, capturing the attention of millions who were equally stunned by the turn of events.
@__jennarose__ sorry this video is so long, but thank you if you stuck around to watch the whole thing. its time we start talking. #foryou #foryourpagetiktok #fyppp #foryourpage #fyp #truecrime #ancestrydna #ancestry #michigan
Uncovering Family Secrets
Jenna, 23, began by explaining that she never met her grandmother and only learned her name when she was about 15 years old. She then revealed that her grandmother, Nancy Gerwatowski, had been a suspect in the unsolved Baby Garnet case, which occurred in June 1997.
The Baby Garnet case, as reported by The Independent, involved the discovery of the remains of a newborn in a campground pit toilet at Garnet Lake Campground, located 20 miles from Newberry, Michigan. The baby was described as a “term or near-term infant,” according to NewsNationNow.
The DNA Test That Changed Everything
Two years ago, Jenna decided to take a DNA test out of curiosity, not realizing that it would lead to life-changing revelations. In her viral TikTok, she shared how, a year after taking the test, she received a shocking call from a Michigan State Police detective.
A woman was left stunned after the results of a simple DNA test led to her grandmother’s arrest. Credit: Andrew Brookes / Getty
“I was like, ‘Excuse me? What the f**k did I do?’ So, I start freaking out,” Jenna recalled.
Instead of being in trouble herself, the detective informed her that her DNA had matched that of the victim in the 1997 cold case. This revelation left Jenna speechless.
It was confirmed that Jenna’s mother was directly related to the victim, Baby Garnet, which suggested a connection to her grandmother, Nancy Gerwatowski, whom she had never met before. “Mind you, I’ve never met this woman before,”
Jenna said, shocked to learn that her grandmother was a key figure in the case.
The Investigation Reopens
The investigation into Baby Garnet’s death had been dormant for years but was revived in 2017 when a Michigan State Police detective sergeant initiated familial genetic tracing with the help of a private lab and the FBI.
In 2020, a lab received the skeletal remains for testing, and by 2022, a DNA profile was developed that pointed to a specific family lineage.
Nancy Gerwatoswki was arrested in 2022. Credit: Mackinac County Sheriff's Office
Jenna’s DNA match was a critical break in the case, which led to her grandmother’s arrest in 2022. Nancy Gerwatowski, now 61, was charged with murder, involuntary manslaughter, and concealing the death of an individual. You can find more details about her arrest in the report from Click on Detroit.
The Charges and Trial Ahead
Nancy Gerwatowski is now facing a trial for the murder of Baby Garnet. If convicted, she could face a life sentence in prison.
Jenna, while sharing the details of how the investigation unfolded, has indicated she is unable to discuss further developments. The case continues to shock and intrigue many, particularly those who have followed the family’s unexpected connection to the crime.
Featured Image Credit: Mackinac County Sheriff's Office
