New appeal to mother of baby found dead in garden

Officers have been looking for Angela Owen ever since the body was discovered in the secluded garden of The Howroyd, Krumlin Road, Barkisland, near Halifax, on July 12, 2006.

She rented the old servants' quarters at Howroyd from January 2002 until May 2003 and lived there with her partner who has not been named by police.

Police hope their appeal will lead to someone coming forward and allow them to put the baby to rest.

A post mortem examination revealed he was full-term and police are not treating his death as suspicious.

It is believed the body could have been at The Howroyd for up to 12 months.

Det Sgt Bill Hargreaves, of Calderdale CID, who has been investigating the case from the start, said he was anxious to lay the child to rest but could not do so until they knew how the baby came to be there.

He said the mother used a multiplicity of aliases ranging from Carla Geissler, Helen Gee and Ann Hall.

Ms Owen is wanted in connection with a fraud in Leeds involving borrowing money and receiving credit to buy cars. Her partner was convicted some time ago for his role in the deception.

Mr Hargreaves said: "We believe she is using something in the region of 30 names. Some of them are real people's names.

"It's possible that the reason she has not come forward is because of the fraud investigation but I think she will crop up sooner or later because almost inevitably people do.

"I'm confident that sooner or later we will come across her. All I need is an explanation of how this infant came to be there and I have a completely open mind about that. It may be that there's a simple explanation or it may be something more sinister.

"I think she is probably still in this area, she does have certain ties. I think someone must know her whereabouts. People do disappear but they tend to resurface eventually.''

Asked how certain police were that she was the mother he said: "I'm 90 per cent certain and that's through DNA.''

He added that there were a number of people and organisations in the Barkisland area who were anxious to lay the infant to rest in a local churchyard.

He said: "There are the relatives too but we can't do anything, we can't lay the infant to rest until we get an answer to our questions.''

The 5ft 9in slim blonde with brown eyes, who may now have changed her appearance, was last seen in the Weston-super-Mare area in June 2004. Mr Hargreaves admitted: "She could look completely different by now.''

The baby's body only came to light by chance after workmen were renovating the house and found it under a pile of debris in the garden.

Terry Norcliffe, a self-employed builder and landscaper from Barkisland, made the grim discovery. At the time he said: "I thought what a way to treat a baby. It disgusted me that someone could treat a child like that.

"It's just a horrible way for a child to end up. I don't care what the circumstances are.''

The Howroyd is one of Yorkshire's most beautiful homes. The manor, set in six acres on the edge of Barkisland village, is best known for its famous visitors such as composer Ivor Novello, who is said to have been inspired to write We'll Gather Lilacs during his stay there.

Guy Fawkes, Lord Nelson, Lady Hamilton and pianist Semprini are also thought to be past guests, and one of its most recent owners was actor Richard Thorpe, Emmerdale's Alan Turner.

It is thought that the house dates back as far as 1267. The Holroyd family are believed to be the home's first owners.

Anyone who can help should phone Halifax CID on 01422 337085 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.