Woman charged with murder of baby found in bin bag in 1998

Police search the woods after the discovery of the baby in 1998

A woman has been charged with the murder of a baby boy who was found dead in a bin bag in woodland in 1998.

Joanne Sharkey, 54, will appear in court on Tuesday over the death of the infant, who was given the name Callum after his body was discovered near the Gulliver's World theme park in Warrington, Cheshire.

Cheshire Police launched a murder investigation, but no arrests were made until a man and woman were detained in July 2023.

Ms Sharkey, from West Derby in Liverpool, had been on bail but was re-arrested and charged, Cheshire Police said.

Cheshire Police said the case was "extremely emotional"

After Callum, who has never been formally identified, was found in March 1998, local people arranged a burial and a funeral service was held.

Det Insp Hannah Friend, from the force's Major Crime Review Team, said the case was "extremely emotional".

She added that as criminal proceedings were now "active", she urged people "not to speculate" as Ms Sharkey had "the right to a fair trial".

A force representative said the man who was arrested had since been released without charge and it was not seeking anyone else in connection with the case.