A father of six who made a disturbing discovery under floorboards has opened up about the impact it had on his mental well-being. David Dent, a construction worker from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, found a package containing skeletal remains of a newborn baby wrapped in a newspaper from 1910 during a renovation project. The shocking find led David to experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as he recounted the moment the baby’s fragile body disintegrated in his hands.
In an interview with The Sun, David described how he uncovered the tiny skull while peeling off the newspaper wrapping. He recounted feeling shocked and dropping the remains upon seeing the small arm and hand. After contacting his wife and then the authorities, David handed over the remains to local investigators, who initially advised him to keep quiet until the news broke that the remains belonged to a baby.
Struggling with PTSD for months following the discovery, David mentioned his gradual recovery in recent times, stating that he has been coping better in the past few months. He shared his intention to visit the grave of the baby, known as “Baby Auckland,” buried in Bishop Auckland Town Cemetery. An early inquest revealed that the child likely lived and died between 1726 and 1812, while Detective Chief Inspector Melvin Sutherland indicated a timeframe of 1910 based on the headstone inscription.
Expressing relief that the baby has been laid to rest, David mentioned his plan to visit the grave and leave a teddy bear as a gesture of remembrance. The inquest into the baby’s death was postponed and is now scheduled for September 17.