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Remains of foetus are discovered in bag by river: Police launch urgent search for baby’s mother
Lancashire Police have launched an urgent search for the mother of a foetus whose remains were found in a bag near the River Hodder in Stonyhurst, after a member of the public discovered what they believed to be a placenta. Detectives say identifying and locating the woman is a priority, as they are concerned for her health and welfare and fear she may be frightened to come forward. The case matters both as a welfare concern for the mother, who officers believe may have been through a traumatic experience, and as a live criminal investigation into how the remains came to be there.
The remains were discovered on Tuesday beneath Hodder Bridge, with a police cordon still in place while enquiries continue. The foetus is not thought to have reached full-term gestation, and officers are working to establish its exact age. Detective Chief Inspector Jill Vescovi appealed directly to the mother to come forward, or to confide in someone she trusts, so she can receive any necessary care and so her baby can be given "the goodbye they deserve." Police also want to trace a man seen in the area with his two children between 1pm and 3pm on the day of the discovery, and are asking anyone who noticed anything unusual nearby to contact them.
In short
- Foetus remains found in a bag near River Hodder, Lancashire
- Police urgently seeking the baby's mother, citing welfare concerns
- Officers appeal for witnesses, especially a man seen with two children
Explained simply
Stonyhurst is a village in Lancashire, and the River Hodder runs beneath Hodder Bridge. A foetus is a developing baby before birth; the remains found near the bridge are not thought to be from a full-term pregnancy, and their exact age has not been established.
Lancashire Police are trying to identify the mother because they are concerned about her health and welfare after what may have been a traumatic experience. They are also investigating how the remains came to be at the river, and seeking information from anyone who was nearby.