They said that there was a body down the hill.

And right on the front page is about this little girl being found up in Washington Heights.

We thought we were going to solve it really quick.

We didn't want the baby to be called the cooler kid.

So Sergeant Ma said said, baby hope.

This is episode two of Break in the Case,

a podcast series written and produced by the New York City Police Department

and supported by the New York City Police Foundation.

Our reporter is Edward Conlan, a former detective who worked in the South Bronx.

A warning, this story contains graphic content and may not be suitable for everyone. Please be advised.

Episode 2, Baby Hope, We Are Them.

On July 23rd, 1991, the body of a little girl was found in a cooler on the side of a highway in Upper Manhattan.

She was maybe four years old.

The cause of death was hom four years old.

The cause of death was homicidal asphyxiation.

Three days into an intensive investigation

that drew national attention,

the only thing the detectives had was a name,

Baby Hope, and they'd made that up themselves.

But the made up name was more important than you think.

Joe Reznik was a lieutenant at the time, the squad commander in the 3-4. His detectives

had the case. He explains why a sense of connection is so important, even if it's improvised.

...