Mummified remains of baby boy found wrapped in newspaper may never be identified

27 September 2023 , 14:37

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The inquest was held at South Manchester Coroner’s Court (Image: MEN Media)

The mummified remains of a baby boy found wrapped in newspapers dating back to the 1940s may never be identified.

An inquest heard the infant had been “carefully” wrapped in cloth and paper and locked inside a suitcase. It was hidden for more than half a century and kept as a “family secret”, until being discovered in the attic of a house. A surveyor found the suitcase while inspecting the property, which was being sold after the death of its owner.

It was passed to members of the extended family, who prised it open with a screwdriver in March 2022. Inside they found the almost complete remains of the baby and called the police. The inquest heard the house in Heaton Mersey, Greater Manchester, had been in the possession of members of the same family for several generations.

Tests established the child had died before 1955 and was no older than five weeks. But the coroner said it had not been possible to establish the exact date or cause of death. The body was wrapped in three layers of newspapers, dated September 1943; September 1950; and August 1959.

Police were able to trace the family tree and identified two women of child bearing age between 1943 and 1959. Their names were also on items found in the suitcase, including a photo of one of them, together with magazines and school work.

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Senior police coroner’s officer Rita Wilkinson said: "Those closest who would have been able to give us evidence have all since deceased. It's been kept a secret within the family and hasn't been passed through the family for us to be able to gain information." She said investigators had “exhausted all enquiries” and the investigation was now closed.

At South Manchester Coroner’s Court, coroner Chris Morris said the boy's identity remained a mystery as he recorded an open conclusion. He added: ”For understandable reasons in light of the degree of mummification, pathologists have been unable to confirm a cause of death.”

Paul Byrne