logo
Weather page
GET THE APP
ePaper
google_play
app_store
  • Login
  • E-Edition
  • News
  • Sports
  • Obituaries
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
    • Place an Ad
    • All Listings
    • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Photo Gallery
  • Contests
  • Lifestyle/Entertainment
  • Games
    • News
      • Local News
      • PA State News
      • Nation/World
    • Sports
      • Local
      • College Sports
      • State
      • National
    • Obituaries
    • Opinion
      • News
        • Local News
        • PA State News
        • Nation/World
      • Sports
        • Local
        • College Sports
        • State
        • National
      • Obituaries
      • Opinion
    logo
    • Classifieds
      • Place an Ad
      • All Listings
      • Jobs
    • E-Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Login
      • Classifieds
        • Place an Ad
        • All Listings
        • Jobs
      • E-Edition
      • Subscribe
      • Login
    Home News Official: Girl found dead on Boston Harbor shore identified
    Official: Girl found dead on Boston Harbor shore identified
    Nation, News
    September 18, 2015

    Official: Girl found dead on Boston Harbor shore identified

    BOSTON (AP) — Authorities have identified a young girl who was found dead inside a bag on a Boston Harbor beach this summer and whose case sparked a massive social media campaign to find out what happened to her, a law enforcement official briefed on the case said Friday.

    Police received information Wednesday that prompted them to search an apartment in Boston’s Mattapan section Thursday, the official told The Associated Press. Authorities have been in contact with some family members of the girl, the official said.

    The official was not authorized to release details of the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

    A spokesman for the Suffolk district attorney’s office would say only that the investigation remains “very active.” A state police spokesman said in an email that “the investigation is ongoing” but “state police have nothing to add beyond that at this point.” Authorities did not publicly release her identity.

    The girl, named Baby Doe by investigators, was estimated to be 4 years old. Her body was found June 25 inside a trash bag on Deer Island in Winthrop by a woman walking a dog.

    Police immediately appealed to the public for help in identifying the girl. Using photos of her remains, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children created a composite image of what the girl might have looked like when she was alive.

    Within two weeks of the discovery of her body, the image of the chubby-cheeked, brown-eyed girl had tugged on heartstrings around the world. By early July, the image had been liked on the Massachusetts State Police Facebook page by more than 50,000 people and shared more than 615,000 times, reaching an estimated 47 million people.

    Authorities set up an anonymous text line and were flooded with tips. The tips led authorities to check on the well-being of dozens of little girls but did not lead them to Baby Doe’s family.

    Despite the widespread publicity, investigators have been frustrated for months trying to figure out who she was and how she died. There were no obvious signs of trauma to her body. An autopsy performed by the state medical examiner’s office did not immediately determine the manner or cause of her death.

    Police chased down tips from around the world, but experts determined pollen on the girl’s blanket and leggings and in her hair came from trees found in New England.

    Residents of the apartment building that police searched told reporters that investigators asked about a woman who used to live there.

    Neighbors said they had not seen a girl who looked like the composite photo released by police since March or April. They said they were told she had been taken into custody of child welfare officials.

    Tags:

    crime criminal investigations general news law and order
    DENISE LAVOIE

    The Bradford Era

    Local & Social
    Latest news for you
    BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Perk up with Penn’s Woods
    Business, Local News
    BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Perk up with Penn’s Woods
    By SAVANNAH BARR s.barr@bradfordera.com 
    June 17, 2025
    There’s nothing like a good cup of joe to help you rise and grind. Now, when purchasing their coffee, residents have the option to support a small, lo...
    Read More...
    {"newsletter-daily-headlines":"Daily Headlines", "newsletters":"Newsletters", "to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Derby winners
    Local News
    Derby winners
    June 16, 2025
    Bradford Community Pride Lions Club announced the winners of its fifth annual Kids Fishing Derby held Saturday at Marilla Reservoir.  Winners included...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Runyan Scholarship winners announced
    Local News
    Runyan Scholarship winners announced
    June 16, 2025
    VFW Post 212 and Frances Sherman VFW Auxiliary announced its 2025 Reba Y. Maben & William “Mr. Bill” Runyan Scholarship winners are Evan D. Confer and...
    Read More...
    Suicide prevention training aimed at saving lives
    Local News
    Suicide prevention training aimed at saving lives
    Suicide prevention training aimed at saving lives
    Continuing education credits available 
    June 16, 2025
    EMPORIUM —A Penn State Extension in-person workshop will provide evidence-based training aimed at saving lives and reducing suicidal behaviors. The wo...
    Read More...
    Pennsylvania senators introduce bipartisan bill to move DOE office to Pittsburgh
    Business, Nation & World, PA State News
    Pennsylvania senators introduce bipartisan bill to move DOE office to Pittsburgh
    June 16, 2025
    WASHINGTON — Pennsylvania Sens. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., and John Fetterman, D-Pa., introduced S. 2044, which would move the Department of Energy’s Offi...
    Read More...
    Trump to attend McCormick’s inaugural Pennsylvania Energy, Innovation Summit
    Business, Local News, Nation & World, ...
    Trump to attend McCormick’s inaugural Pennsylvania Energy, Innovation Summit
    June 16, 2025
    WASHINGTON — President Donald J. Trump will attend Sen. Dave McCormick’s inaugural Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit at Carnegie Mellon Univer...
    Read More...
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    This Week's Ads
    Current e-Edition
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Already a subscriber? Click the image to view the latest e-edition.
    Don't have a subscription? Click here to see our subscription options.
    Mobile App

    Download Now

    The Bradford Era mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the Bradford Era on your mobile device just as it appears in print.

    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Trending Recipes

    Help Our Community

    Please help local businesses by taking an online survey to help us navigate through these unprecedented times. None of the responses will be shared or used for any other purpose except to better serve our community. The survey is at: www.pulsepoll.com $1,000 is being awarded. Everyone completing the survey will be able to enter a contest to Win as our way of saying, "Thank You" for your time. Thank You!

    Get in touch with The Bradford Era
    Submit Content
    • Submit News
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Place Wedding Announcement
      • Submit News
      • Letter to the Editor
      • Place Wedding Announcement
    Advertise
    • Place Birth Announcement
    • Place Anniversary Announcement
    • Place Obituary Call (814) 368-3173
      • Place Birth Announcement
      • Place Anniversary Announcement
      • Place Obituary Call (814) 368-3173
    Subscribe
    • Start a Subscription
    • e-Edition
    • Contact Us
      • Start a Subscription
      • e-Edition
      • Contact Us
    CMG | Community Media Group
    Illinois
    • Hancock Journal-Pilot
    • Iroquois Times-Republic
    • Journal-Republican
    • The News-Gazette
      • Hancock Journal-Pilot
      • Iroquois Times-Republic
      • Journal-Republican
      • The News-Gazette
    Indiana
    • Fountain Co. Neighbor
    • Herald Journal
    • KV Post News
    • Newton Co. Enterprise
    • Rensselaer Republican
    • Review-Republican
      • Fountain Co. Neighbor
      • Herald Journal
      • KV Post News
      • Newton Co. Enterprise
      • Rensselaer Republican
      • Review-Republican
    Iowa
    • Atlantic News Telegraph
    • Audubon Advocate-Journal
    • Barr’s Post Card News
    • Burlington Hawk Eye
    • Collector’s Journal
    • Fayette County Union
    • Ft. Madison Daily Democrat
    • Independence Bulletin-Journal
    • Keokuk Daily Gate City
    • Oelwein Daily Register
    • Vinton Newspapers
    • Waverly Newspapers
      • Atlantic News Telegraph
      • Audubon Advocate-Journal
      • Barr’s Post Card News
      • Burlington Hawk Eye
      • Collector’s Journal
      • Fayette County Union
      • Ft. Madison Daily Democrat
      • Independence Bulletin-Journal
      • Keokuk Daily Gate City
      • Oelwein Daily Register
      • Vinton Newspapers
      • Waverly Newspapers
    Michigan
    • Iosco County News-Herald
    • Ludington Daily News
    • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
    • Oscoda Press
    • White Lake Beacon
      • Iosco County News-Herald
      • Ludington Daily News
      • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
      • Oscoda Press
      • White Lake Beacon
    New York
    • Finger Lakes Times
    • Olean Times Herald
    • Salamanca Press
      • Finger Lakes Times
      • Olean Times Herald
      • Salamanca Press
    Pennsylvania
    • Bradford Era
    • Clearfield Progress
    • Courier Express
    • Free Press Courier
    • Jeffersonian Democrat
    • Leader Vindicator
    • Potter Leader-Enterprise
    • The Wellsboro Gazette
      • Bradford Era
      • Clearfield Progress
      • Courier Express
      • Free Press Courier
      • Jeffersonian Democrat
      • Leader Vindicator
      • Potter Leader-Enterprise
      • The Wellsboro Gazette
    © Copyright The Bradford Era 43 Main St, Bradford, PA  | Terms of Use  | Privacy Policy
    Powered by TECNAVIA