DuPage Co. Investigators Continue Search for Parents of Abandoned Baby

DuPage County investigators are not giving up hope in finding the parents of a baby whose body was left abandoned in a backpack on a private driveway near Wheaton earlier this year.

Named “Baby Hope” by investigators, the infant’s body was found in the area of 25W400 Plamondon Road in unincorporated Wheaton on Aug. 15. Since then, the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office has been searching for the baby’s parents.

On Sunday afternoon, investigators again canvassed the area where Baby Hope’s body was found. They went door-to-door asking residents for any information that may help investigators to ID the baby’s parents, according to authorities.

"Somebody knows something, we're hoping," DuPage County Sheriff Jeff Christensen told ABC 7 Chicago. "We have contact cards to share with the public asking them to retweet her story, share in on Facebook...just get the word out, keep talking about Baby Hope so we can bring closure."

DuPage County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Robert Harris said the re-canvassing efforts would likely continue next weekend.

"Yesterday’s re-canvas was phase one of a multi-phase re-canvas," Harris said in an e-mail response on Monday. "This is due to the large amount of residences in the area we need to make contact with. We will most likely be out canvassing again this coming Sunday."

The re-canvassing effort took place weeks after authorities released information about new DNA evidence that could provide some clues into the possible identities, and appearance, of the parents of Baby Hope.

DNA taken from the the baby revealed the baby’s parents were likely Hispanic, and toxicology testing shows the mother was taking a prescription medication called Lamotrigine, which is often used to treat seizures or bipolar disorder, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The DuPage County Sheriff’s Office at a press conference in October also released images that show what Baby Hope’s parents may look like. The images were created through a process called DNA phenotyping, which was done by Parabon NanoLabs, a DNA technology company in Virginia.

DNA phenotyping is a process used to predict physical appearance and ancestry from unidentified DNA evidence. Law enforcement agencies use the Virginia company’s Snapshot DNA Phenotyping Service to narrow suspect lists and generate leads in criminal investigations, according to authorities.
Police released the of what the abandoned baby’s parents may have looked like at 15 and 25 years old.
What Baby Hope's parents may have looked like at age 15.What Baby Hope's parents may have looked like at age 25.

Authorities said the parents of Baby Hope, likely had dark hair, dark eyes and medium skin tone but could not elaborate on any other specific physical attributes, according to the Daily Herald.

Authorities also said Snapshot composites are scientific approximations of appearance based on DNA and are not likely to be exact replicas of appearance. Environmental factors such as smoking, drinking, diet and other non-­environmental factors, including facial hair, hairstyle and scars, cannot be predicted by DNA analysis.
Investigators have already revealed that Baby Hope was found in a black Everest backpack. They have also said a brown bathroom mat and toilet seat cover were found at the scene.

>>> Abandoned Newborn: Police Hope Someone Recognizes This Backpack

Authorities are hoping someone will be able to piece these clues together and help lead them to the parents of the abandoned baby whose death has currently been ruled as “undetermined” by the DuPage County Coroner, according to WGN TV.

Baby Hope was buried on Sept. 22 at St. Michael Cemetery, 1109 Warrenville Road.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 630-407- 2400. Callers may remain anonymous.

More on Patch

• Police Release New Details on Baby Found Dead Near Wheaton
• Moms Angered Over Abandoned Baby Organize Ceremony to Help Community Heal
• UPDATE: Police Continue to Search for Mother of 'Baby Hope'
• Police: Mother of Baby Found Dead Near Wheaton May be in Danger