Detectives ‘step closer’ to solving 13-year mystery of baby boy found dead in Kirkham brook

Police have now traced the father of the newborn found by a dog walker in Spen Brook, a stream winding through a farmer’s fields, near Kirkham in October 2011.

He was traced through a DNA familial link, cold case investigator Detective Chief Inspector Bryony Midgley of Lancashire Police told reporters on Wednesday at the scene of the grim discovery more than a decade ago.

The father, originally from Manchester, was in his 20s and living in Blackpool at the time. He is not a suspect and is helping police with their inquiries.

The cause of death of the full-term baby remains unexplained.

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Det Chief Insp Midgley said: “We are now re-investigating his death. This is such a sad case and it had a huge impact on the community here in Kirkham.

“A major part of our investigation is trying to find out who the baby boy’s mum is.”

She added: “We ask for anyone who has any information which could help us find the mum, however small that piece of information might be, to come forward and speak to us.

“We believe somebody knows who she is and what happened back in 2011.”

Locals in nearby villages raised funds, paying for the child’s gravestone and burial at St Michael’s Church in Kirkham in 2011.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.