Officers in Southampton are intensifying their investigation into the discovery of a human placenta, now exploring the possibility that a criminal offence may have occurred in connection with this unsettling case.
The discovery was initially reported to the police after it was found on a path near the Spire and General hospital off Dale Road on June 21, and since then, authorities have been conducting thorough inquiries to uncover the circumstances surrounding the mother and baby linked to the placenta. Over three months later, as the investigation unfolds, investigators are now considering the possibility of criminal wrongdoing.
In the most recent development, a 25-year-old woman from Southampton was taken into custody on suspicion of the concealment of the birth of a child. However, following urgent DNA inquiries, she has been cleared of involvement in the case and subsequently released from custody with no further action to be taken against her.
Detective Chief Inspector Elizabeth Pirie, who is leading the investigation, expressed ongoing concerns for the well-being of both the mother and the baby at the center of this perplexing case. She emphasized the need to understand the circumstances fully and highlighted the increasing seriousness of the situation as time passes without the identification of the individuals involved.
“We are keeping an open mind into what has taken place and continue our work to understand the full circumstances surrounding this discovery,” said Detective Chief Inspector Pirie. “Unfortunately, we now believe due to the length of time that has passed that we are investigating the unlawful concealment of the birth of a child.”
Addressing the arrests made in the course of the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Pirie clarified that these decisions were not taken lightly and were deemed necessary to progress inquiries and ascertain whether a criminal offence had occurred. She stressed the commitment of the police to ensuring the well-being of the individuals involved.
“We are now confident that both women previously arrested are not linked to this discovery and have eliminated them from the investigation,” Detective Chief Inspector Pirie confirmed. “We have made arrests only where absolutely necessary, and have eliminated a number of other people from our enquiries without arrests taking place.”
Detective Chief Inspector Pirie expressed gratitude for the public’s support during the three-month-long investigation and urged anyone with information related to this case to come forward. She encouraged individuals to contact the police via the non-emergency number 101 or through the official website, providing reference number 44230246419/Op Holdo.
