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Home / New Zealand

Police plea for mum of baby girl found dead at Auckland recycling plant to come forward

Anna Leask
By Anna Leask
Senior Journalist - crime and justice·NZ Herald·
23 Aug, 2021 02:03 AM3 mins to read

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Detective Inspector Scott Beard reveals details about a deceased baby that was found at a recycling facility in Onehunga. Video / NZ Herald

A week after a baby girl was found dead at an Auckland recycling facility, police are making another appeal to her mother to come forward.

The baby was found last Monday night by staff at the Onehunga site.

A post-mortem carried out on Wednesday confirmed it was baby girl who was born at full term.

Today the officer in charge of Operation Deer, the investigation into the baby's death, made a heartfelt plea to the mother to reach out.

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Detective Inspector Scott Beard said police are still no closer to finding the woman.

"This baby girl is laying in a mortuary with no name and no one to give her the funeral she deserves so she can be laid to rest," he said today.

"We are still following other lines of inquiry but continue to urge anyone with information to come forward.

"We would like to remind our community that anyone who comes forward will be able to speak with police in confidence and we are treating this matter with the utmost sensitivity."

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Detective Inspector Scott Beard. Photo / Dean Purcell
Detective Inspector Scott Beard. Photo / Dean Purcell

Late last week police released images of items of clothing located in a blue plastic bag that was found during their scene examination at the recycling plant.

"The baby may have been in the blue bag, which also included several items of baby, children's and adult clothing," Beard said.

"The clothing includes a child's beanie, a distinctive pink child's sweater and pink T-shirt, women's belts and two women's tops and a sequined skirt that appears to have been cut up.

"There were also two baby onesies with colourful prints on them located in the area, which may have also come out of the bag."

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Beard said it was important to find the baby's mother not only to identify her, but to make sure she was safe and healthy.

If you recognise any of these items contact the Operation Deer team. Photo / Supplied
If you recognise any of these items contact the Operation Deer team. Photo / Supplied

"Not only do we want to identify the baby girl's mother to ensure her welfare and get her the medical assistance and support she needs, but we also want to get some answers for the sake of this little girl," he said.

"She has no name ... The sooner police can identify her mother, the sooner this baby girl can be treated with the respect she deserves.

Can you help?

• Anyone with information can contact the Operation Deer inquiry team 105 quoting file number 210816/2825 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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