A BABY found underneath floorboards at a house died in “suspicious” circumstances, police believe.
The grim discovery was made in Bishop Auckland, in Durham, with investigators estimating the remains had been concealed for more than 100 years.
The baby was wrapped in newspaper which had deteriorated over the years, but detectives were able to identify a fragment which dated to 1910.
Forensic examination has also established that the baby, found at a property in Fore Bondgate, was full term at 40 weeks, but have been unable to firmly establish the gender.
Officers have also identified twine wrapped around the baby’s neck, indicating that the cause of the death is likely to have been suspicious.
Further forensic tests are taking place over the coming weeks, including carbon dating, to confirm the initial findings.
Detectives from Durham Constabulary are now attempting to trace historic records for the property between 1900 and 1920 as part of efforts to identify who lived there at that time.
The property dates to the Victorian period and at one stage housed a church-run mother and baby unit, although it is believed that the baby was concealed before that time.
Detective Chief Inspector Mel Sutherland, from Durham Constabulary, said: “The evidence suggests this has happened a very long time ago, which makes investigating the circumstances extremely difficult, but we still have a duty to that baby.
“My focus is on finding out who the baby is, what happened and how it came to be under the floorboards of that house.
“As soon as we are able to, I am determined that this little baby is given an appropriate and dignified funeral.”
Police are now gathering historical information about the house’s ownership from 1900 to 1920, including securing records and tracing family trees to potentially identify any living relatives.
If you have any information about 67 Fore Bondgate, phone 101 and quote incident number DHM-29072024-0127.
