FRIDAY UPDATE: Police on Friday release some details about a toddler who was found dead on Deer Island Thursday.
The child, a girl, is estimated to be about 4-years-old, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley. She had brown eyes and and brown harid and was roughly 14 inches long. Investigators said she weighed rougly 30 pounds. Her ethnicity has not been established. Police are now asking the public’s help in the investigation.
“Neither the cause nor the manner of the girl’s death has yet been determined. Pathologists will undertake additional specialized testing before attempting to make those findings,” the DA’s office said Friday in an emailed statement. A woman walking her dog on the island’s public path reported spotting the remains around 1 p.m. Thursday.
“We are enlisting the help of the public for anything that they may be able to provide to us at this time,” said State Police Lt. Col. Frank Matthews said after the gruesome discovery Thursday. “Any information they may have as to a missing child would be relevant to us. If anyone knows about a child that might be missing or are concerned about a neighbor’s child or someone in their family, please reach out to us.” The investigation will include help from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Matthews said.
The Medical Examiner’s office has removed the body from the scene, and an autopsy was scheduled for Friday, said Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Mark Lee.
“We will of course be work hand in hand with State Police and with the Winthrop Police Department to investigate the circumstances behind the discovery of her body,” Lee said. He said he wanted to “make an appeal to the public for any information or assistance they can provide in connection with the case.”
A woman taking a walk on the island saw a sheet over the human remains. She says another woman walking her dog made the discovery.
— Jonathan Hall (@JHall7news) June 25, 2015
Footage from WCVB showed what appears to be a white sheet covering an object near the water.
Video: Apparent human remains found on Deer Island http://t.co/K0o17TnskV
— WCVB-TV Boston (@WCVB) June 25, 2015
Security were also stopping traffic near the scene, according to reports.
Security stopping traffic heading into Deer Island after a body was discovered. #wbz pic.twitter.com/i5CQDeNQqn
— Christina Hager (@HagerWBZ) June 25, 2015
The remains may have been “concealed,” said Kerry Kavanaugh of Fox 25.
Investigators now say passerby spotted possible human remains ‘concealed’ and alerted police. #DeerIsland @fox25news
— Kerry Kavanaugh (@KerryKavanaugh) June 25, 2015
Police have restricted access to the public walking path on Deer Island, according to reports.
Employee access to the Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant has not been restricted, said Ria Convery, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority.