The unthinkable family secret closely guarded for decades - and the mystery of a baby boy that may never be solved

The identity of a baby boy whose remains were found in a suitcase - wrapped in newspapers dating back to the 1940s - as a house was cleared out may forever remain a mystery. The child's existence had been 'kept a secret' between immediate family members for decades, an inquest was told.

The grim discovery was made as relatives of a man who had lived at the property, on Berwick Avenue in Heaton Mersey, Stockport, were preparing to sell it following his death in November 2021, an inquest heard. A surveyor found the locked, 'old fashioned, hard case' in a 'hatch' in the eaves above one of the bedrooms.

Extended family members took it home, before prising it open with a screwdriver on March 6 last year. They were left horrified as they discovered the 'mummified', 'almost complete', remains of the infant. They had been 'carefully wrapped' in cloth and newspapers dating back to the 1940s and 1950s.

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The existence of the baby had been 'kept a secret within the family', the inquest heard. It came as a complete 'shock and surprise' to relatives who opened the case.

Despite an 'extensive and detailed' investigation by police, a coroner said it had not been possible to establish the boy's identity. He said there was insufficient evidence to say exactly when or how the child died.

It was possible he may have been stillborn, or been born and died shortly afterwards, the coroner added. A forensic anthropologist said the child's possible age ranged from 36.6 foetal weeks to 46.8 weeks gestation - 4.8 weeks post-term.

A carbon dating expert said the death could not