Mystery of child boy whose physique was discovered wrapped in Union Jack tub towel by stream 14 years in the past near being solved after main breakthrough
The mystery of a baby boy whose body was found in a stream nearly 14 years ago is a step closer to being solved after police identified his father.
Detectives revealed today that a breakthrough in DNA technology has led them to trace the father, who is now helping them establish the mother’s identity, which remains unknown.
The man, who is originally from Manchester but was then living in Blackpool, was unaware he had fathered the baby, who is believed to have been born after a casual fling.
Police said the man was in his 20s when he met the baby’s mother.
A dog walker made the grim discovery of the newborn – wrapped in a Union Jack bath towel – at Spen Brook in Kirkham, Lancashire on October 1, 2011.
However despite a series of police appeals – including on BBC1’s Crimewatch and This Morning – no breakthrough was made.
The unidentified baby was later buried in a heartbreaking ceremony at a local church after local businesses donated their services.
Launching a new appeal at the scene of the discovery today, Detective Chief Inspector Bryony Midgley, who leads a cold case team at Lancashire Police, said: ‘The dad has now been traced through familial DNA. Through breakthroughs in DNA technology, we have been able to confirm that he is dad.’
A member of the police forensics team conducts an examination of the site after the discovery of the baby’s body that was found in a stream nearly 14 years ago
A tent is placed over the area where the child was found by a dog walker at Spen Brook in Kirkham, Lancashire on October 1, 2011
She added: ‘A thorough investigation was carried out but unfortunately his parents were never identified.
‘We are now re-investigating his death. This is such a sad case and it had a huge impact on the community here in Kirkham.
‘A major part of our investigation is trying to find out who the baby’s boy’s mum is.
‘We ask for anyone who has any information which could help us find the mum, however small that piece of information might be, to come forward and speak to us.
‘We believe that somebody knows who she is and what happened back in 2011.
‘You might not have wanted to come forward back then, but with the passage of time, it will feel right to do so.
‘Now, our specially trained officers will be there to support you.
‘Thanks to advances in DNA technology, the dad who lived in Blackpool has been assisting with this investigation, but we have still, so far been unable to identify baby’s mum. These scientific developments should also help us to confirm who his mum is.’
The baby was dressed in this blue and white striped George ASDA fleece top when it was discovered in 2011
A post mortem was unable to determine the cause of the baby’s death. Tests revealed the baby had been born at full-term.
In 2011, investigating officers believed the baby had been left where his body was discovered because the low water levels and thick undergrowth would have prevented it floating from upstream.
A Union Jack towel, a green towel with a ‘Renaissance’ label and a discoloured fleece which was originally blue and white were found near the body.
Detectives later revealed on BBC1’s Crimewatch that a shoe box from the Evans chain was also found, saying the baby’s body may originally have been placed inside it.
Speaking of the items found alongside the tragic discovery back in 2011, Det Supt Neil Esseen of Lancashire Police said: ‘On their own these items may seem fairly insignificant, however, if there is anybody out there who can link these items together then I would urge them to come forward and speak with us.
‘Our main priority is to trace the mother of the baby boy and I hope that the Crimewatch appeal will provide us with some crucial leads.
‘Maybe even the mother of the baby herself, or even the father or other close family members, will have seen the appeal and we would urge them to come forward so that we can offer them the support they may need.’
However there was no breakthrough at the time, and after donations from local businesses his funeral was held at St Michael’s Church, Kirkham in June 2012.
A small blue coffin was carried into church by a police officer as mourners looked on.
The service featured readings from three local primary school head teachers and a senior detective.
He was buried in the churchyard with a headstone marked ‘baby boy’ and a pledge that he will always be remembered.
Local residents continue to mark the anniversary of the tragic discovery.
In 2013 Paula Gemmell, manager of Pink Tree Parties in Kirkham, told the Blackpool Gazette: ‘It is one of the tragedies that is never going to go away in the memories of the locals, and it’s never going to be put right unless we find the mother and help her.’
