THUNDER BAY -- Police say an infant, whose body was discovered on the city’s southside this past spring, died from a medical issue.
Thunder Bay Police Service officials on Monday announced an update into the investigation, which began after an infant’s body was discovered on the bank of the Neebing River near Tarbutt Street on May 5.
Ever since the discovery, police have been trying to identify the infant and the family. Information from the Regional Coroner’s Office following a post mortem examinations conducted in Toronto revealed that the infant's death appears to have been due to medical causes.
Police aren’t releasing any other information on the infant, including gender or age.
“Our investigators have been working very hard to try to sift through all the information they have and ensure they can come to a positive conclusion in understanding what occurred,” said Const. Julie Tilbury.
“When our investigators are trying to sift through things that are truth and non-truths that they have to have certain information that only people connected to the situation or have an intimate knowledge would know and that’s why we’re holding this information back at this point in time.”
Police say the disposition of the infant's remains is a matter that continues to be investigated.
“Because we know this infant died of medical conditions, that part of the investigation would not deem it to be a homicide. However, we are still investigating the disposition of the remains of this infant and that is the part the Thunder Bay police are currently looking into,” said Tilbury.
The Coroner's office maintains custody of the infant's remains and hopes to release the remains back to the family once they are identified.
The Regional Coroner's Office along with the Thunder Bay Police Service urge anyone with information about this investigation to come forward to either party or provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
Regional Coroner's Office - 807-343-7663
Thunder Bay Police Investigations - 807-684-1237
Crime Stoppers - 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
