Baby found wrapped in 1910 newspaper had twine knotted around neck, inquest told

The newborn boy’s skeleton was discovered during renovations at a property in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, England, in July 2024

An inquest at Crook Civic Centre, was told that the police inquiries involved DNA testing, a radio carbon expert and a forensic anthropologist.

A baby whose remains were found wrapped in newspaper from 1910 and hidden under floorboards had twine looped three times around his neck and knotted, an inquest heard.

The newborn boy’s skeleton was discovered during renovations at a property in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, in July 2024, and a police investigation began.

An inquest at Crook Civic Centre, was told that the police inquiries involved DNA testing, a radio carbon expert and a forensic anthropologist.

Coroner Crispin Oliver, who called the case “tragic”, said that all elements of the inquest process were engaged, meaning it was necessary to establish who the deceased was, as well as how, where and when he died.

He said: “This is a sad and unusual case.” He said the inquest intended to establish if the death was unnatural, violent or unknown.

The inquest heard that DNA testing established that the baby was a boy.

He has since been named by investigators as Baby Auckland.

He was wrapped in a newspaper called The Umpire, dating from 1910.

Renovations were being carried out in a second floor room at the building at Fore Bondgate by owner Peter Moody, who made the discovery under a floorboard.

He told police that the skeletal remains had what looked like about metre of garden twine around the neck.

Records established that the property, used as a cafe at the time, was built in the late 19th century.

Detective Chief Inspector Mel Sutherland, who led the police inquiry, said forensic anthropologist Dr Micol Zuppello worked at the scene and established that the remains were human.

Dr Zuppello believed the body, since mummified, was placed face-down.

She judged the remains were that of a baby of 38-40 weeks development.

It was not possible to say if the baby was stillborn.

Home Office pathologist Dr Louise Mulcahy told the inquest she could not ascertain the cause of death.

There was no sign of trauma on the skeletal remains, but there was no soft tissue left to establish if poisoning was a factor.

She confirmed to the coroner that the twine was looped and knotted directly around the baby’s neck, then wrapped in newspaper, rather than the chord being used to tie the wrapping, like a parcel.

She said: “I have recorded it was looped around the neck three times, there was a knot, and a further loop.” Mr Sutherland explained how the police inquiry looked at finding a knot expert but the cost of that investigation, given there was no prospect of it leading to a prosecution, was too much.

The twine used was generic, so was not a investigative lead, the inquest heard.

DNA testing did not reveal any known living relatives, he said.

The detective said public appeals in the media led to two sisters to come forward believing they could be related to a servant who worked at the property, but a DNA test did not match.

Mr Oliver asked Mr Sutherland if the twine could have been used to hang a religious artefact around the baby’s neck, or if string could have been used in midwifery practices at the time, but the detective said neither was likely.

Mr Sutherland praised Durham County Council for organising a funeral for the baby, supported by a funeral director who gave their services for free and a memorial firm which provided a headstone.

The inquest also heard from Dr Brian Tripney, a radio carbon dating expert from Glasgow University, who used a bone sample to establish that the baby was born in a period between the mid-1600s and 1955.

Mr Oliver said he will give his conclusion later on Thursday.

After the funeral in April, Cathy Hunt, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: “Sadly, for reasons we will never know, this little boy was never given the dignified and appropriate burial he deserved, so it was important that he was laid to rest in a way that honoured a life that could have been.”