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18/11/2009
DNA Clues In 1981 'Baby On Beach' Case
Police reviewing the unsolved case of a dead baby girl whose body was found washed up on Weymouth beach in 1981 have made a DNA breakthrough.
Referred to by the media at the time as the 'Baby on the Beach' case, the child's body was found on the beach near to Weymouth's pier bandstand by three men who were metal detecting on October 15, 1981.
The body was in a white carrier bag, which was contained in a larger canvas bag, and was found just above the high waterline of the beach. The carrier bag had 'Bath Street Wine Cellar, Quality Wine Merchant, Jersey CI' printed on the side.
One theory at the time was that the bag may have been thrown from the ferry between Weymouth and Jersey in the Channel Islands.
A post-mortem revealed that the new-born baby girl had been strangled.
Forensic scientists working for Dorset Police have now developed a full genetic profile of the new-born baby and an almost complete profile of a second person who is most likely to be the mother.
Dorset Police Crime Review Officer Phil James, who has been investigating the cold case since March, said described the news as a "significant development". He said: "The forensic examinations are complete and the results are very positive.
"The almost complete DNA profile of a second person - who is most likely to be the mother - is sufficient for comparison and a search of the national DND database has revealed that there is no match for the nearly four million people on the database."
Mr James added: "Dorset Police has received a number of calls from the public about this cold case and this significant advance in the investigation will allow comparison of someone's DNA to the DNA profile.
"That forensic ability will enable us to identify people by also eliminate people from the investigation."
Mr James also appealed for the baby's parents or anyone with any information about them to come forward. He said: "They (the parents) may be keen to bring closure to this very sad case and may wish to do this with some dignity, rather than live in fear of receiving that unexpected call."
Police have also appealed for a man who made contact with police in August this year to get in touch again as he had "information that is of interest". Chris Beechey, Head of CID at the States of Jersey Police, said: "Following the visit of Dorset Police to Jersey earlier this year, a member of the public got in contact with some information which may be relevant to the case.
"We would specifically ask this member of the public to come forward again and contact either CID in Jersey, or the Dorset Police directly."
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Dorset Police on: 01202 222 222, States of Jersey CID on: 01534 612200 or Crimestoppers anonymously on: 0800 555 111.
(KMcA/BMcC)
Referred to by the media at the time as the 'Baby on the Beach' case, the child's body was found on the beach near to Weymouth's pier bandstand by three men who were metal detecting on October 15, 1981.
The body was in a white carrier bag, which was contained in a larger canvas bag, and was found just above the high waterline of the beach. The carrier bag had 'Bath Street Wine Cellar, Quality Wine Merchant, Jersey CI' printed on the side.
One theory at the time was that the bag may have been thrown from the ferry between Weymouth and Jersey in the Channel Islands.
A post-mortem revealed that the new-born baby girl had been strangled.
Forensic scientists working for Dorset Police have now developed a full genetic profile of the new-born baby and an almost complete profile of a second person who is most likely to be the mother.
Dorset Police Crime Review Officer Phil James, who has been investigating the cold case since March, said described the news as a "significant development". He said: "The forensic examinations are complete and the results are very positive.
"The almost complete DNA profile of a second person - who is most likely to be the mother - is sufficient for comparison and a search of the national DND database has revealed that there is no match for the nearly four million people on the database."
Mr James added: "Dorset Police has received a number of calls from the public about this cold case and this significant advance in the investigation will allow comparison of someone's DNA to the DNA profile.
"That forensic ability will enable us to identify people by also eliminate people from the investigation."
Mr James also appealed for the baby's parents or anyone with any information about them to come forward. He said: "They (the parents) may be keen to bring closure to this very sad case and may wish to do this with some dignity, rather than live in fear of receiving that unexpected call."
Police have also appealed for a man who made contact with police in August this year to get in touch again as he had "information that is of interest". Chris Beechey, Head of CID at the States of Jersey Police, said: "Following the visit of Dorset Police to Jersey earlier this year, a member of the public got in contact with some information which may be relevant to the case.
"We would specifically ask this member of the public to come forward again and contact either CID in Jersey, or the Dorset Police directly."
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Dorset Police on: 01202 222 222, States of Jersey CID on: 01534 612200 or Crimestoppers anonymously on: 0800 555 111.
(KMcA/BMcC)
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