Stream baby's death still a mystery

The funeral of the baby boy took place in December

The death of a newborn baby whose body was found in a stream remains a mystery after the inquest into his death.

The baby's mother has never been traced despite repeated appeals since the body was found in August last year at Teardrop Lakes in Loughton in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

On Friday Milton Keynes coroner Rodney Corner recorded an open verdict on the death of the baby.

Experts believe the newborn boy was up to four weeks premature but the body was too decomposed to determine a cause of death.

The inquest heard that off-duty police officer Christopher Bird found the body in the stream.

No injuries

Pathologist Dr Nicholas Hunt said the baby had been tightly wrapped in a single piece of plastic film, first head to toe and then side to side.

The baby was believed to be Caucasian, but could possibly have been of Afro-Caribbean or Asian origin.

The cause of death was "unascertained" as the body had been left for a number of days, but he found no injuries to the bones or soft tissue.

Mr Corner, recording the open verdict, said he hoped police would be successful with their inquiries into the boy's death.

The baby's funeral took place at All Saints' Church, Loughton, Milton Keynes, in December after the coroner consented for the body to be released for burial.

Thames Valley Police have appealed for the mother to come forward for help by contacting Brendan O'Dowda, of Milton Keynes Police, on 0845 8 505 505.