BABY DEATH UPDATE: Vicar and daughter still suspects

Rev Jim Percival the new vicar at Freckleton Parish Church of the Holy Trinity

Murder suspects reverend Jim Percival, 65 and his daughter Ruth, 28 answered bail today and have been re-bailed by police until January 11.

The duo were both arrested on suspicion of murder and conspiracy to conceal the birth of a child following the sudden death of a baby boy in Freckleton in 2014.

Police were initially called to a house in Sunnyside, Freckleton on November 25 after a family member reported the still birth of a baby boy.

But after an inconclusive post mortem examination police believe the baby boy’s was suspicious.

An inquest into the death was opened and adjourned in May.

The coroner’s court heard the boy was born at around 3am on November 25 but died a short time later.

The cause of death is still unknown and Lancashire police said the investigation in on-going.

A spokesman said: “A 65-year-old man and 28-year-old woman from Freckleton arrested on suspicion of murder and conspiracy to conceal the birth of a child have been re-bailed pending further enquiries until January 11.”