Grand River's Baby Doe remains in Toronto 'until she is identified'

It's been four months since the body of a little girl was pulled from the Grand River, and as she remains with Toronto's Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, the Dunnville community waits for new information.

Her remains were discovered by fishermen on May 17, and preliminary forensics identified her between 10 months and two-and-a-half-years-old.

Det. Insp. Shawn Glassford told the Sachem that her remains would remain in Toronto until she was identified.

The Forensic Pathologist and Forensic Anthropologist continue to study the body of the child," he said. The painstaking tests examine the child in (its) entirety in an attempt to learn as much as possible about this child's life and death.

Glassford said that her cause of death was included in the testing, including toxicology and DNA. He said that such tests take time, and while waiting for the results of the examination, police are continuing to follow up with information from the public. He also said he hoped to provide the community with further information soon.

This investigation will continue until we have identified this child and determined how she came to be in the Grand River," he said.

Someone knows the identity of this child."

Anita Darnell moved to Dunnville earlier this year from Niagara Falls and said that since learning of the grim discovery, she won't let her three-year-old out of her sight.

I hold her close every night, and she complains a little," said Darnell. I can't help it, though, I'm watching my daughter sleep, and closed the windows last summer."

Darnell said she'd heard different theories from other parents at the playground, most of them straight outta TV."

We just don't know anything, and maybe it's because I'm new here, but I look at everyone now who is in my eye line," she said. "I've been praying for her since the vigil, that's when I first learned of her.

I pray that someone will remember something and say something."

For any information, call the centralized tip line at 1-844-779-9403. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or leave a message online at www.helpsolvecrime.com. You may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.