Skeleton of baby under floor in County Durham was there ‘number of years’, police say

A skeleton of a human baby found under the floorboards of a house undergoing a renovation appears to have been there “undisturbed for a number of years”, police have said.

The skeleton was found in an upstairs room at an address in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, at about 11.15am on Monday.

Durham police brought in forensic analysts, including an expert anthropologist, to examine the skeleton and help determine the baby’s age and how long it might have been there.

On Wednesday the force said early indications were that the baby was full term and had lain there for years.

A spokesperson said: “Detectives are waiting for the results of forensic analysis, however initial indications appear to suggest that the baby was full term and had been undisturbed for a number of years.

“The body of the baby has now been recovered from the scene and has been taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where a postmortem examination will be held on Friday morning.”

Police have finished searching the building and no further remains have been found, the spokesperson added.

Detectives have also begun tracing former residents of the property.

Det Ch Insp Mel Sutherland, from Durham constabulary, said: “Our investigations are at an early stage.

“Obviously, this is a sensitive inquiry and at this point we remain open minded as to the circumstances surrounding the death.”

It is hoped the postmortem examination and a CT scan will help establish the cause of death.