OPP share 3D face recreation to help identify baby found in Grand River

A $50,000 reward is being provided by the Government of Ontario to help identify a young child whose remains were found along the Grand River in 2022.

A $50,000 reward is being provided by the Government of Ontario to help identify a young child whose remains were found along the Grand River in 2022.

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have released a three-dimensional (3D) facial approximation and new unsolved video in the hopes of identifying the child. The child’s remains were discovered by two people fishing on a boat on May 17, 2022 along the Grand River in Dunnville.

The cause of death has not been determined.

The facial approximation, completed by the OPP Forensic Artist/Reconstruction Analyst, is of a female child. It was determined the child was between the ages of ten-and-a-half months and three years at the time of her death.

"We need the community's help in this disturbing and tragic case involving a young child,” said Detective Inspector Shawn Glassford, with the OPP, in a media release. “We hope that the 3-D facial approximation will spark someone's memory and that they come forward. Together, we can give this child her name back."

Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) results showed that the child’s heritage is half Chinese or neighbouring countries along the southern Chinese border, and is of North African heritage, police said.

Police hope the 3D approximation and video will prompt the public to provide new information to assist the investigation.