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DNA hope in 1981 baby death case DNA hope in 1981 baby death case
(39 minutes later)
Detectives have made a DNA breakthrough in the unsolved case of a newborn baby found washed up dead on a beach in Weymouth 28 years ago.Detectives have made a DNA breakthrough in the unsolved case of a newborn baby found washed up dead on a beach in Weymouth 28 years ago.
The girl's body was discovered in 1981 in a white carrier bag which came from a shop in Jersey. The body of the girl, who had been strangled, was found in 1981 in a white carrier bag from a shop in Jersey.
Forensic scientists have now developed a genetic profile of the baby and a person "most likely" to be the mother.Forensic scientists have now developed a genetic profile of the baby and a person "most likely" to be the mother.
One theory is that the girl was thrown overboard from a ferry between Weymouth and the Channel Islands. One theory is that the girl's body was thrown overboard from a ferry between Weymouth and the Channel Islands.
Dorset Police crime review officer Phil James, who has been investigating the cold case since March, said: "The forensic examinations are complete and the results are very positive.Dorset Police crime review officer Phil James, who has been investigating the cold case since March, said: "The forensic examinations are complete and the results are very positive.
"The almost complete DNA profile of a second person - who is most likely to be the mother - is sufficient for comparison."The almost complete DNA profile of a second person - who is most likely to be the mother - is sufficient for comparison.
"A search of the national database has revealed that there is no match to the nearly four million people on the database.""A search of the national database has revealed that there is no match to the nearly four million people on the database."
A member of the public got in contact with information which may be relevent to the case Chris Beechey, Jersey CIDA member of the public got in contact with information which may be relevent to the case Chris Beechey, Jersey CID
Referred to by the media at the time as the "baby on the beach case", the little girl's body was found near Weymouth's pier bandstand by three men using metal detectors on 15 October, 1981. Referred to by the media at the time as the "baby on the beach case", the little girl's body was found in the bag near Weymouth's pier bandstand by three men using metal detectors on 15 October, 1981.
Post-mortem examinations carried out at the time confirmed she had been strangled.
The carrier bag had Bath Street Wine Cellar, Quality Wine Merchant, Jersey CI printed on it.The carrier bag had Bath Street Wine Cellar, Quality Wine Merchant, Jersey CI printed on it.
Detectives want a man who made contact with police during August 2009 with what was described as "information of interest", to contact police in Jersey or Dorset.Detectives want a man who made contact with police during August 2009 with what was described as "information of interest", to contact police in Jersey or Dorset.
Chris Beechey, the head of Jersey CID, said: "Following the visit of Dorset Police to Jersey earlier this year, a member of the public got in contact with some information which may be relevant to the case.Chris Beechey, the head of Jersey CID, said: "Following the visit of Dorset Police to Jersey earlier this year, a member of the public got in contact with some information which may be relevant to the case.
"We would specifically ask this member of the public to come forward again.""We would specifically ask this member of the public to come forward again."
Mr James told BBC News: "Dorset Police have received a number of calls from the public about this cold case and this significant advance in the investigation will allow comparison of someone's DNA to the DNA profile.Mr James told BBC News: "Dorset Police have received a number of calls from the public about this cold case and this significant advance in the investigation will allow comparison of someone's DNA to the DNA profile.
"That forensic ability will allow us to identify people, but also eliminate people from the investigation.""That forensic ability will allow us to identify people, but also eliminate people from the investigation."