Fresh appeal for mum of baby found in Kirkham stream in 2011

BBC News

19-03-2025

Police have renewed an appeal "to solve the mystery" of a baby boy whose body was found in a stream.The boy, who was thought to be no more than a few weeks old, was found in Spen Brook, off Carr Lane, Kirkham, in 2011.Lancashire Police Det Ch Insp Bryony Midgley said while the baby's father was traced last year through DNA, and he helped with the investigation, the mother has still not been identified.The case is being reinvestigated by the Lancashire Police major crime cold case review team set up 18 months ago.
Detectives believe the baby was no more than a month old and had been born at full-term.It is thought his body had been in the water for no more than five days when he was discovered by a dog walker.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.Det Ch Insp Midgley said: "I am renewing our appeal for information in the hope we can solve the mystery of the tragic death of a newborn baby boy more than 13 years ago."This is such a sad case and it had a huge impact on the community in Kirkham."We have never been able to give him an identify or find out why he came to be in this brook."She added: "We have made progress as the baby boy's dad has now been traced thanks to advances in DNA technology." Det Insp Midgley said the boy's father lived in Blackpool.
Det Insp Midgley urged anyone who has information on who the baby's mother was to come forward. "You might not have wanted to come forward back then, but with the passage of time it will feel right to do so now," she said.A funeral service was held in 2012 at St Michael's Church, Kirkham, paid for by donations from local residents and businesses.
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