By Lisa Schick

Autopsy performed on baby found in Regina backyard

Nov 22, 2014 | 8:50 AM

Stuffed animals and flowers were placed at a home in Regina, where the remains of a baby was found.
 
On November 7 a newborn baby boy was discovered in the backyard of a house on the 700 block of Retallack Street. 
 
Elizabeth Popowich with Regina Police says there were multiple reasons why they waited to tell the public about the investigation.
 
“Because there wasn’t a threat to the public, because we had located the mother and didn’t have a need to ask public for more information at that stage and in order to protect the investigation we didn’t do a news releases immediately,” said Popowich. 
 
An autopsy has been performed but police will not be releasing the results at this point. Popowich said it is too early to decide if charges would be laid.
 
“At this stage it would be appropriate to call it a death investigation and not to label it otherwise but it’s ongoing, we haven’t concluded it yet.”
 
Patti Genaille lives a few houses down from where the baby was found. Patti has lived on Retallack Street for 10 years and says she sees cop cars in her neighbourhood all the time.  
 
“They young kids are always lighting garbage on fire and somebody torched the old couple’s garage down there…There was a man beaten up here not too long ago and awhile back there was a man found dead on our (railroad) tracks. It’s just getting a little too close for comfort.”
 
Genaille says many of the neighbours are close and have been talking about the heart breaking discovery.
 
“A lady that lives across the street from where the baby was found, has now told other neighbors that the baby was stillborn.”
 
The claim that the baby was stillborn has also been posted on the Regina police Facebook page. 
 
“What people are posting is rumour and speculation and I would hope people don’t place too much importance on that,” said Popowich.  
 
Regina police have confirmed that the people living inside the home where the body was found, had no connection to the baby.

DShawcross@rawlco.com

On Twitter: @DebShawcross