Inquest Hears Baby Auckland Skeleton May Date Back to 18th Century
An inquest into the death of 'Baby Auckland,' whose skeletal remains were discovered under the floorboards of a Victorian house in Bishop Auckland in July 2024, has revealed startling new evidence. Although the baby was wrapped in a newspaper dated June 19, 1910, and had twine around his neck, radiocarbon dating suggests he likely lived between 1726 and 1812, potentially up to 300 years ago. The remains were found by a contractor, prompting a police investigation that concluded the site had been undisturbed for years. Forensic analysis confirmed the child was a full-term male, but the cause of death remains unascertained despite postmortem examinations by pathologists. DNA investigations failed to identify the baby or link him to living relatives. Senior Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield formally released the remains for a dignified funeral scheduled for April 27 in Bishop Auckland. The inquest was adjourned until May 18 to allow for further inquiries into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the child's burial and the discrepancy between the newspaper date and the scientific dating results.
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Inquest Hears Baby Auckland Skeleton May Date Back to 18th Century
An inquest into the death of 'Baby Auckland,' whose skeletal remains were discovered under the floorboards of a Victorian house in Bishop Auckland in July 2024, has revealed startling new evidence. Although the baby was wrapped in a newspaper dated June 19, 1910, and had twine around his neck, radiocarbon dating suggests he likely lived between 1726 and 1812, potentially up to 300 years ago. The remains were found by a contractor, prompting a police investigation that concluded the site had been undisturbed for years. Forensic analysis confirmed the child was a full-term male, but the cause of death remains unascertained despite postmortem examinations by pathologists. DNA investigations failed to identify the baby or link him to living relatives. Senior Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield formally released the remains for a dignified funeral scheduled for April 27 in Bishop Auckland. The inquest was adjourned until May 18 to allow for further inquiries into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the child's burial and the discrepancy between the newspaper date and the scientific dating results.
The Guardian