Woman, 54, charged with murder of baby ‘Callum’, who was found strangled to death in woods near Gulliver’s World theme park in 1998
A woman has been charged with the murder of a newborn baby who was found strangled to death in the woods near an amusement park more than 25 years ago.
The body of baby ‘Callum’ was discovered in a bin by a dog walker in woodland close to Gulliver’s World in Warrington, Cheshire, in 1998.
A post mortem previously confirmed he had been strangled and beaten around the head and was just hours old when he died – reportedly weighing just 7lb 8oz.
On Monday evening, Cheshire Police confirmed that Joanne Sharkey, 54, of West Derby, Liverpool, had been charged with the infant’s murder.
Sharkey, who was arrested with a man in July 2023, is due to appear at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
The man has since been released without charge, the force said as it confirmed detectives are not looking for anyone else in relation to the death.
The unidentified boy’s body was discovered in a black bin by a dog walker in a wooded area (pictured) near the theme park in Warrington, Cheshire, on March 14, 1998. Joanne Sharkey, 54, has been charged with his murder
A post mortem confirmed that ‘Callum’ was strangled and beaten around the head and was just hours old when he died
The coffin containing the body of abandoned baby Callum found suffocated shortly after his birth lies in St Elphin’s parish church
Four months after his tiny body was discovered, baby Callum was laid to rest in a small white coffin following a moving ceremony at St Elphin’s Church in the city
Baby Callum’s funeral, where more than 150 people – including the town’s mayor – paid their respects
Detective Inspector Hannah Friend said: ‘I understand this is an extremely emotional case which has attracted a lot of attention over the last twenty-six years, but I would ask people not to speculate.
‘Criminal proceedings are now active against Joanne Sharkey and she is entitled to a fair trial.’
The parents of the baby, who was eventually named Callum by officers after the Callands area of the city where he was discovered, were never found and his true identity remains a mystery.
But in July Cheshire Police confirmed that two people, both from Liverpool, had been arrested on suspicion of his murder.
The discovery sparked a massive police investigation that saw thousands of people interviewed and a special hotline number set up for anyone offering information.
Almost 500 women’s DNA was tested during the police investigation, including many schoolgirls, but these tests failed to find a match.
Several thousand people were interviewed to aid the investigation.
Four months after his body was discovered, Callum was laid to rest in a white coffin following a moving ceremony at St Elphin’s Church in the city.
Local people rallied to raise £888 to pay for a headstone used when he was buried at Warrington Cemetery.
It was inscribed: ‘Baby Callum, precious child of God. Laid to rest July 27, 1998. With love, from the people of Warrington.’
More than 150 people – including the town’s mayor – paid their respects before he was buried in a small grave, surrounded by flowers and children’s toys.
School children laid handmade cards next to his coffin as Eric Clapton’s ‘Tears in Heaven’ played in the background.
A woman, described as ‘crazy and emotional’, called and claimed to be the baby’s mother – but she was never traced and her identity remains unknown.
A distressed girl in a beige coat seen in the area at the time was also never found.
Detective Inspector John Hester, who led the investigation, once described the case as ‘one of the most disturbing’ of his career.
He said at the time: ‘He was a tiny, defenseless baby who didn’t really have a chance of survival.’