This is What the Parents of Baby Abandoned Near Wheaton Could Look Like

New DNA evidence has provided investigators some clues into the possible identities, and appearance, of the parents of an abandoned baby found dead in a backpack on a private driveway near Wheaton three months ago.

The DNA taken from the the baby, found along Plamondon Road in unincorporated Wheaton on Aug. 15, has 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 on Thursday morning 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 photos Thursday of what the abandoned baby’s parents may have looked like at 15 and 25 years old.

Authorities said the parents of Baby Hope, the name given to the currently unidentified baby by investigators, 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 non­environmental 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

They 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.

A $5,000 reward is being offered by the Illinois Crime Commission for information that helps identify or locate Baby Hope's parents. Anyone with information is being asked to call the sheriff's office at (630) 407-2400.

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