Dead newborns found in locker

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This article was published 22/10/2014 (4214 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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It’s what workers at a U-Haul storage facility call a delinquent locker, a storage space that hasn’t been paid for in months. What those workers discovered inside that locker on Monday might send them for counselling.

They found the remains of up to four infants in various stages of decomposition.

Winnipeg police are expected to release more information about the grisly discovery today.

“I’m confident something will come out (today),” police spokesman Const. Eric Hofley told a news conference Tuesday.

The disturbing report on the infants’ remains found in a U-Haul storage facility at the corner of McPhillips Street and Elgin Avenue made headlines across Canada.

“It’s tragic beyond belief,” said Hofley, who, in his 14 years as a police officer, has never been involved in such a case.

An employee at a storage facility made the discovery Monday afternoon, the spokesman said. Police were at the scene throughout Monday afternoon, evening and into the night.

On Tuesday, an official with U-Haul said the company is co-operating with police.

“U-Haul team members made a disturbing discovery when taking inventory of a delinquent storage locker on Monday. They immediately contacted law enforcement, who believed the locker contained human remains,” said Razmin Mansoub, marketing company president for U-Haul Company of Central Canada.

“U-Haul is deeply shocked and saddened by this discovery.”

Police are waiting for autopsies to determine their cause of death and to confirm how many babies’ bodies were found, said Hofley.

“The remains were in a state such that it’s not obvious,” said Hofley. “(The remains are from) very, very young infants, not children. Newborns.

“It’s very disturbing and tragic” for the employees of the storage facility, police officers and other emergency personnel on the scene, Hofley added.

He couldn’t say when the autopsies will be completed and wouldn’t say who had rented the storage unit in which the bodies were found.

‘(The remains are from) very, very young infants, not children. Newborns’ — Const. Eric Hofley

“It’s too early to say what has transpired. The investigation is less than 24 hours old,” said Hofley.

As of Tuesday evening, there were no suspects in custody, although Hofley said investigators have spoken with people of interest.

The investigation is being conducted by the child-abuse unit and the homicide unit has been notified, he said, without providing further details.

Hofley said there have been no reports of missing babies.

Even if this isn’t a case of foul play, “you’re not allowed to store human remains in a storage locker,” Hofley said.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact police at (204) 986-3296 or Crime Stoppers at (204) 786-TIPS (8477).

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca