{"id":3441,"date":"2026-05-25T21:57:38","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T21:57:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/brit-dad-shares-grim-moment-he-found-skeleton-of-baby-under-floorboards\/"},"modified":"2026-05-25T21:57:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T21:57:38","slug":"brit-dad-shares-grim-moment-he-found-skeleton-of-baby-under-floorboards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/brit-dad-shares-grim-moment-he-found-skeleton-of-baby-under-floorboards\/","title":{"rendered":"Brit dad shares grim moment he found skeleton of baby under floorboards"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_1c1e1b\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Builder David Dent was undertaking renovation works at a flat in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, when he and a colleague discovered a bundle hidden under the floorboards<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37204203\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Floorboards\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204203.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_I-found-skeleton-of-murdered-baby-wrapped-in-twine-hidden-beneath-floorboards-Ill-never-forget.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204203.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_I-found-skeleton-of-murdered-baby-wrapped-in-twine-hidden-beneath-floorboards-Ill-never-forget.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204203.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_I-found-skeleton-of-murdered-baby-wrapped-in-twine-hidden-beneath-floorboards-Ill-never-forget.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204203.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_I-found-skeleton-of-murdered-baby-wrapped-in-twine-hidden-beneath-floorboards-Ill-never-forget.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"The baby was found under floorboards during a home renovation\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The baby was found under floorboards during a home renovation<cite aria-label=\"Image: Durham Constabulary\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Durham Constabulary)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A dad-of-six who discovered the skeletal remains of a tiny baby underneath floorboards has revealed the toll the horror find has taken on his <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/mental-health\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">mental health<\/a>.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">David Dent, a builder from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, was renovating a building in the town in 2024 when he discovered a bundle wrapped in a more than century-old newspaper and twine, with which the tot may have been killed. The package contained remains experts later concluded were more than 100 years old and belonged to a full-term <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/newborn-baby\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">newborn<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">David, 42, has tackled Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after making the grim discovery, and has revealed how the tiny <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/babies\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">baby&#8217;s<\/a> frail body fell apart in his hands.<\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_9d2dcd\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\"><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37077234\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/baby-auckland-funeral-county-durham-37077234\" tabindex=\"0\">Baby&#8217;s skeleton laid to rest after being found wrapped in 1910 newspaper<\/a><\/span><\/span><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_9d2dcd\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\"><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37010745\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/baby-newspaper-floorboards-bishop-auckland-37010745\" tabindex=\"0\">Mystery of baby boy found wrapped in 1910 newspaper under floorboards deepens<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37204202\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37204202\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Police forensic investigators enter a disused building in Fore Bondgate\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204202.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Skeleton-of-a-baby-found.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204202.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Skeleton-of-a-baby-found.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204202.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Skeleton-of-a-baby-found.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204202.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Skeleton-of-a-baby-found.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Investigators concluded that the baby was likely born and died in 1910\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Investigators concluded that the baby was likely born and died in 1910<cite aria-label=\"Image: PA\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: PA)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Speaking to <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">The Sun<\/a>, David said he picked up the bundle and started peeling off the 1910 newspaper in which it was wrapped after he and a colleague recovered it from under the floordboards during a renovation in Fore Bondgate. Recalling the moment he uncovered &#8220;a little skull&#8221;, he said: \u201cWhen I got hold of it, I looked at it and for some reason I pulled the paper off it and I\u2019ve seen a little skull.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cWhen I saw that I was in a bit of shock. I half placed it, half dropped it on the floor. I noticed a little arm and a hand that fell off it.&#8221; David told the publication he then called his wife, who advised him to tell police.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37204205\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37204205\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.78\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Piece of twine\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204205.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_I-found-skeleton-of-murdered-baby-wrapped-in-twine-hidden-beneath-floorboards-Ill-never-forget.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204205.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_I-found-skeleton-of-murdered-baby-wrapped-in-twine-hidden-beneath-floorboards-Ill-never-forget.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204205.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_I-found-skeleton-of-murdered-baby-wrapped-in-twine-hidden-beneath-floorboards-Ill-never-forget.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204205.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_I-found-skeleton-of-murdered-baby-wrapped-in-twine-hidden-beneath-floorboards-Ill-never-forget.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"The baby was found wrapped in twine and a newspaper\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The baby was found wrapped in twine and a newspaper<cite aria-label=\"Image: Durham Constabulary\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Durham Constabulary)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He then handed the remains over to local criminal investigators, who told him to &#8220;just keep it to yourself&#8221;, before he heard on the radio that the remains were confirmed to have veonged to a baby.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He added: &#8220;It wasn\u2019t until the next day, the Tuesday, when I was <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/topic\/driving\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">driving<\/a> my van back home and they said on the radio it was an actual baby that they\u2019d found, and I had to pull over because it caught me off guard.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37204206\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37204206\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Undated Durham Constabulary handout photo of the funeral service for Baby Auckland\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204206.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Baby-Auckland-funeral.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204206.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Baby-Auckland-funeral.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204206.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Baby-Auckland-funeral.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204206.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Baby-Auckland-funeral.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"David Dent said he was happy to hear the child had been laid to rest\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">David Dent said he was happy to hear the child had been laid to rest<cite aria-label=\"Image: Tom Banks\/PA Wire\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Tom Banks\/PA Wire)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He said he was left struggling with PTSD for months after the discovery, which has been steadily improving recently, adding: \u201cI\u2019ve not been too bad these last couple of months.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The dad added that he now plans to visit the grave of the late child, who has been named &#8220;Baby Auckland&#8221; and buried in Bishop Auckland Town Cemetery. An early inquest hearing was told the child had likely lived and died sometime between 1726 and 1812, but Detective Chief Inspector Melvin Sutherland suggested the baby had lived and died in 1910.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37204204\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37204204\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Baby Auckland commemorative plaque\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204204.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Baby-Auckland-laid-to-rest-in-dignified-service-after-century-long-mystery.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204204.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Baby-Auckland-laid-to-rest-in-dignified-service-after-century-long-mystery.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204204.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Baby-Auckland-laid-to-rest-in-dignified-service-after-century-long-mystery.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204204.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Baby-Auckland-laid-to-rest-in-dignified-service-after-century-long-mystery.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"The child was named Baby Auckland and laid to rest in the town\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The child was named Baby Auckland and laid to rest in the town<cite aria-label=\"Image: Newcastle Chronicle\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">That date was inscribed on the late tot&#8217;s headstone. David said: \u201cI\u2019m pleased he\u2019s put to rest at last. I\u2019m going to go to the grave in my own time and put down a teddy bear for him,\u201d dad-of-six David, from Newton Aycliffe, continued.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">I\u2019m from Bishop originally, I\u2019ll go next time I see my mam.\u201d An inquest into the baby&#8217;s death was postponed, and is now due to take place on September 17.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/baby-skeleton-floorboards-bishop-auckland-37204200\" target=\"_blank\">Source link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Builder David Dent was undertaking renovation works at a flat in Bishop Auckland, County Durham,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3442,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_I-found-skeleton-of-murdered-baby-wrapped-in-twine-hidden-beneath-floorboards-Ill-never-forget.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3441"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3441\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3442"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}