ICP alum Jessica Earnshaw's documentary film Baby Doe is being screened DCTV Firehouse Cinema in New York City, from July 10 to 16, 2026, with post-screening discussions featuring the director and special guests. Earnshaw is a Documentary Practice and Visual Journalism graduate from 2011.
Baby Doe tells the story of Gail Ritchey, a young woman from a conservative community in rural Ohio who, thirty years ago, gave birth alone and left her newborn in the woods. Now a devoted mother of three, her quiet suburban life is shattered when DNA evidence links her to the infamous cold case of “Geauga’s Child,” leading to her arrest for murder. Directed by Jessica Earnshaw, the film cuts through decades of headlines to examine the human complexity behind a case that raises difficult questions about justice, memory, media representation, and public perception. Through a compassionate yet rigorous lens, Baby Doe explores how stories are shaped by journalists, law enforcement, and the courts — and what can be lost when complex human experiences are reduced to sensational narratives.
The film also offers a compelling case study in ethical storytelling. Jessica spent years building trust with the family at the center of the story, navigating difficult questions about representation, trauma-informed reporting, accountability, and the responsibilities of documenting people whose lives are unfolding in real time within the public eye.
"...an empathetic film that plays like a true crime documentary in which the question is not who did it, but why."
"Endlessly compelling...Has you in its grip from start to finish."
Baby Doe marks Jessica's second high-impact film, having premiered in competition at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival. Her debut feature Jacinta, now streaming on Hulu, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival where Jessica was honored with the Albert Maysles Award for Best New Documentary Director. Named to DOC NYC's "40 Under 40" list in 2020, Jessica's photography has also been featured in National Geographic, The Marshall Project, Mother Jones, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, among others.
Images: Jessica Earnshaw
Jessica Earnshaw
