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Investigation launched after baby's body found in Grimsby Baby's body found in drain in Grimsby
(about 13 hours later)
Police have launched an investigation after a plumber found the body of a baby in a garden drain. Police have launched an investigation after the body of a baby was found in a garden drain in Grimsby.
Forensic experts were at the property in Grimsby, carrying out an examination of the scene. A plumber made the discovery on Thursday after being called to clear a blockage at a property on Scartho Road, one of the town’s wealthiest streets, a few minutes’ walk from a maternity hospital. The owners of the property then called the police.
Officers were called at 12.50pm on Thursday after they were told the body of the baby had been found in the grounds. Det Insp Christine Calvert, of Humberside police, said: “The owners are in extreme shock. They are helping with inquiries as much as they can.”
A Humberside police spokeswoman said: “The investigation is at its early stages as police work to establish the circumstances of the incident.” Police said the investigation was in its early stages and they did not know how long the baby may have been in the drain. They refused to release any details about the child’s age or gender until a postmortem has been carried out on Monday. Detectives appealed for the baby’s mother to come forward.
A postmortem examination will be carried out on Monday. Officers taped off the front and rear access to the house, and scenes of crime officers carried out investigations in the back garden of the property and inside the house.
Police have made no arrests, and are trying to establish the age of the baby and the whereabouts of its mother. The house is believed to be owned by a retired teacher and his wife, both in their late 50s. A woman leaving the house said: “It’s just awful what has happened. It was a shock and it is so sad.”
A retired doctor at a neighbouring property said: “It could have been anyone. Anything could be put in someone’s drains because the street is so open. All of our drains are accessible from our back gardens and are separate from each other.
“There’s a hospital up the road and the university. It could be someone trying to hide it or cover up their pregnancy. With this kind of thing, sometimes they avoid the hospital.”
Paige Laver, 22, a shop assistant who has lived at on the road for 14 years, said: “My sister rang me yesterday to tell me - and I was so shocked. From what I have heard, it sounds like the baby had been there a while. Everyone is shocked by what has been found.”