Lang
9/25/25
A former Iowa City woman accused of killing her baby 33 years ago is back in custody in Johnson County.
58-year-old Cindy Elder was booked into the Johnson County Jail at 7:15 Wednesday night.
Iowa City Police say Elder, formerly known as Cindy Sue Eckrich, gave birth at a residence in Iowa City in December of 1992. Elder told police the baby was born alive and she did not know how it died. She placed the newborn in a plastic sack and deposited it in a trash receptacle on 5th Street in Coralville, near the residence of Elder’s father. The child’s body was later found at the Iowa City Landfill.
In February 2022, Elder was discovered to be living in Clever, Mo. Investigators spoke with Elder, who admitted to giving birth while living in an Iowa City residence. She’s now charged with 1st Degree Murder. If convicted, she faces life in prison.
Elder’s next court date is not listed.