Baby Ava mystery 'Significant' clue to newborn's identity

Beneath an ash tree in a snow-covered park, a tiny soiled bundle stood out against the gleaming white. A passing dog stopped in its tracks, sniffing at the dirt-covered fabric. Its owner stepped closer then halted, horrified, and called 999.

- Josh Halliday

The first police officers at the scene carefully inspected the unusual object but had identified it within minutes: it was a little baby, frozen and decomposing in the first snow of winter.

This terrible discovery sparked one of the most complex, painstaking and sensitive investigations in recent times for detectives on the major incident team of Greater Manchester police.

Almost a year on, investigators are still trying to trace the parents of the newborn girl with the soft black hair. But this week, for the first time, they revealed one “significant” clue they hope will help solve the mystery of the abandoned Baby Ava.

DI Louise Kelly was at her desk when the initial report came in. She had investigated shootings, stabbings, gang attacks. But this was different.

At first, officers had nothing to identify the tiny infant. She was days old at most when she died, police believe, though she may have been stillborn. Her body was so decomposed it was impossible to say initially whether she was a girl or boy.

Alongside a team of about 20 detectives, experts in dental and bone analysis, botany, anthropology and archaeology have gradually learned more about Ava’s tragically short life.