Authorities urge those with information on remains of baby found at New Bedford park to come forward

Editor’s note: Discretion advised, as some readers may find elements of the following story disturbing.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office is looking for help from the public during an investigation after the body of a baby was discovered at a park in New Bedford.

District Attorney Thomas Quinn, Massachusetts State Police, and New Bedford police are in the process of reviewing several weeks of surveillance footage from the area of Fort Taber after “Baby Doe” was found on Saturday, Dec. 9.

New Bedford police responded to a 911 call at the park around 12:40 p.m.

Officers spoke with a woman who said she and her niece were walking along a path near the water when she saw a blanket near some bushes and smelled decay.

She found the baby in a plastic bag that was wrapped inside the blanket.

She then yelled for help from two men who were out walking their dog. One of the men called 911.

State and New Bedford detectives assigned to the case said all three people were interviewed after the discovery and there was no reason to believe any of them had a role in the baby’s death.

After DNA testing, investigators said Baby Doe was a boy, and likely died one to four weeks before he was found.

The official cause and manner of his death are pending final autopsy results.

Quinn has partnered with a private lab for extensive genealogical and forensic testing of DNA and other evidence in the case. Authorities said details on the other obtained evidence could not be released.

Anyone with information on the case is urged to come forward and contact New Bedford police at 508-991-6300 or call state police detectives at 508-961-1901.

The public can submit an anonymous tip via text message by texting the word “Bristol” to CRIMES, or 274-637.