Mystery of dead babies in suitcase leads to Scottish nurse

Published on Friday 3 September 2010 17:50

Investigators have identified the owner of a suitcase in which the mummified remains of two babies were found, bringing them a step closer to solving the intriguing mystery.

The owner of the suitcase, abandoned for decades in the basement of an apartment building, was Janet M Barrie, a Scottish immigrant who was born in 1897 and worked as a nurse in Los Angeles before moving to Canada, where she died.

Confirming her identity will help investigators as they try to solve the puzzle of the abandoned remains found wrapped in sheets and nestled in doctor bags amid scrunched up copies of 1930s newspapers.

The coroner's office has been unable to determine how the babies died, and it may never be known why they were placed in the suitcase or who put them there. DNA tests are currently underway to see if the babies were related to each other.

The abandoned suitcase was found on 17 August by two women clearing out an apartment building basement that was filled with items that accumulated during years of remodels. Police yesterday ruled out any immediate links to Scottish author JM Barrie.