Posted on 11/01/2007 4:09:12 PM PDT by Tall_Texan
The identity of a small girl whose body was found stuffed into a plastic storage box on a remote Galveston Bay island remains unknown but investigators say they will do whatever it takes to solve the heart-wrenching mystery of her death.
"It's despicable that someone would dispose of this little girl's body in the way that they did," said sheriff's Sgt. Mike Barry said during an emotional news conference today. "We will follow any lead to try to find the identity of Baby Grace."
Barry used the name given to the dead girl by stymied investigators who have received few leads and none that have brought them closer to knowing who the girl is.
The investigators gathered outside the Galveston County Medical Examiner's office today to issue an international plea for public help in identifying the 2- to 5-year-old girl whose body was stuffed in a storage box and hidden in the bay for as long as several weeks, according to autopsy results released today.
The autopsy showed that the child "had skull fractures...and there was no other trauma found," Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Stephen Pustilnik said. He said he could not tell yet exactly what caused her death.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is doing more work to try to determine if the girl was sexually assaulted, he said. He declined to say if any of the head injuries appeared to be older than others.
Baby Grace is white, was 2- to 5 years old, weighed between 25 and 30 pounds and stood about 32 to 35 inches tall.
"The child was wrapped in plastic bags and was in a blue utility box with a black handle," Pustilnik said.
The girl had wavy, blond to light-brown hair that fell to about the middle of her back, he said.
She wore a pink or red cropped shirt and a matching skirt. The top was a pullover with three-quarter-length sleeves and the bottom was a broom skirt.
On her feet were white sneakers with pink flower decorations that lit up and flashed, he said.
The girl wore panties with a Disney label inside and a figure that appeared to be a princess on the outside, investigators said.
Pustilnik and investigators said they believe they will learn the girl's name and be able to find out why she died as word about the case spreads and the right person hears her description.
"There's a grandparent who hasn't seen their grandchild in the last couple of weeks," Pustilnik said. "There's an aunt or an uncle someplace, maybe locally, maybe somewhere in the state, maybe somewhere around the nation who has not seen the tragic end to this little girl, what she came to."
The body was found on a marshy sandbar in an area known as Greens Cut near Greens Lake, where there is a break in the barrier separating West Galveston Bay from the Intracoastal Waterway, he said. Tuttoilmondo estimated that the cut is about five miles southwest of the Galveston Causeway.
Sheriff's dive team members on Wednesday made another search of the area where the girl was found, turning up no new evidence.
The container was a blue Sterilite-brand model 1842 92-quart tote locker, with a black handle;
Her shoes, made by Athletic Works, were the company's "Tiara" model, and had been available at Wal-Mart stores. Her top and skirt are believed to have been sold by Target.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Galveston County sheriff's investigators at 409-766-2222 or 866- 248-8477 or any Crime Stoppers organization.
I hope the find the animal(s)that did this.
Her mother might also be a victim or even be the prisoner of the monster who did this.
That’s sad.. I have a daughter that is just over two years old...
To me, the most telling clue is that the perp apparently shops at Wal-Mart and Target. Now, I realize a lot of people buy cheap clothes for kids because the kids grow up fast however it might also mean this was a first-born to a family of lesser means.
Oh my dear Lord, please hold this tiny soul closer.
They MUST find out who did this.
My Lord in Heaven Hold this Dear Child in His Loving Arms, and Prosecute her Murderer to the Fullest Extent Forever.
Sounds about the right age and description to match that little girl who went missing out of Portugal, you all know who I’m talking about; her parents are British citizens and they were vacationing in Portugal. She disappeared about six months ago.
You speak of Madelaine McCann. That would be a real wild-card.
I’m glad there is a push to get this to go national...
The box, and the way she was left reeks of a well conceived plan...
She was found not too far from us (just down the freeway) and a whole bunch of FReepers I know in this part of Texas...
There is a special place in hell for this person(s) who did this...
Have they issued a photo of the box or other objects?
Yes, on the local news...
They showed a “sales” picture of the box, and a pair of shoes similar (identical?) to the ones he was wearing...
I could go find the links to this info, but you may find it just as fast by looking through the local TV affiliates and radio station websites...
Whats going to net results is the idea, that someone at some point in this has got to start missing their daughter, niece, sister etc etc...
Its not going to bring her back, but ID-ing is going to localize this death...Not sure if they have figured out the C.O.D., and that may help in the long run as well between a possible homicide and or an accidental death...
I’m sure we’ll all see it develop...
This one is not going to go away...
They said there were skull fractures which would certainly suggest blunt force trauma. Without understanding who she is and where the assault took place, I’m not sure they can get any closer to cause of death than that.
This is true, I overlooked the skull fracture find...But that can be caused by a lot of things, including a malicious attack...
All of this is going to come out in the wash though...I don’t think this is going to take much longer...
bump for follow-up
Support Overwhelming for ‘Baby Grace’ Case
Galveston County Sheriff’s Office has received many phone calls with information about the case of the young girl whose body was found in a container near West Galveston Bay. On several occasions, all the incoming lines to the communication center have been occupied with calls.
Investigators say they have carefully scrutinized and prioritized the incoming calls.
Several callers have offered monetary donations to ensure a proper burial for “Baby Grace,” while two people have offered to donate cemetery plots for the girl.
Galveston Crime Stoppers has offered to serve as an avenue to handle contributions. Donations can be sent to them at 600 59th St., Suite 1500, Galveston, Texas 77551.
Tim Miller, founder of Texas EquuSearch, has organized a vigil service for “Baby Grace” scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4. The vigil will take place near Fat Boy’s Bait Camp on the 600 block of Jones Lake Road near Galveston.
During the vigil, two Sheriff’s deputies will place a cross and plaque built my Miller at the spot where “Baby Grace” was found.
Galveston County Sheriff’s Department released two sketches Friday depicting “Baby Grace.”
A forensic artist from Houston Police Department created the sketches of the girl, who was named “Baby Grace” by Galveston officials investigating the case.
A forensic dentist has narrowed Baby Grace’s age range to 2-3 years.
Galveston authorities have been asking for the public’s help in identifying the girl and the media’s help in spreading the request nationwide.
A fisherman on one of the islands along the Intracoastal Waterway called police after finding the blue plastic storage box containing the girl’s body washed up on the shore on Monday night.
The girl is described as having blonde hair reaching to the middle of her back. She was 32-34 inches tall and weighed 25-30 pounds. She was dressed in a matching pink pullover top and broom skirt. She wore size 8 1/2 white tennis shoes, with Velcro closures, purple accents and little lights built into them.
Authorities say the girl’s body could have come from anywhere and they have called in the FBI for help.
A preliminary autopsy completed Tuesday by the Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office found that the girl had at least one skull fracture.
Galveston County chief medical examiner Dr. Stephen Pustilnik said the girl appeared to have been dead for at least two weeks and the body was in a state of extensive decomposition. The exact time and cause of death had not been determined.
Major Ray Tuttoilmondo asked that anyone with information about the child contact the sheriff’s office at 409-766-2222 or toll free at 866-248-8477.
I cannot understand it either. Some people are evil. This should be death penalty case.
More details today from Fox News.com...
HOUSTON — Police in Texas say the body of a young girl washed ashore in a storage box in Galveston Bay last week could have come from as far away as Europe, but officially ruled out it being British toddler Madeleine McCann, who disappeared in Portugal six months ago.
“We’re confident it’s not her,” Galveston County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Maj. Ray Tuttoilmondo told FOX News.
After receiving several tips suggesting that the body may have belonged to McCann, Galveston authorities worked with Interpol, the FBI and Portuguese authorities to eliminate that possibility.
The Gulf Intercoastal Waterway, where the box containing the body was found, is a major commercial port, and Galveston a popular tourist destination with a transient population, Tuttoilmondo said.
“The important thing to consider in this case is that Galveston is a tourist area,” Tuttoilmondo said. “We have a lot of commerce going through here,” he said.
The Galveston County Sheriff’s Department has launched a massive public appeal for help identifying the child, nicknamed “Baby Grace” by police. They have released a sketch of what they believe the child would look like and are offering a cash reward.
According to a forensic dental examination of the remains, she was between 2-3 years-old. She was white, 32 to 35 inches tall and weighing 25 to 30 pounds. She had long blonde or light brown wavy hair, and was wearing a Target-brand pink, flowing skirt, a pink or red shirt and white light-up tennis shoes with purple flowers on them.
Hundreds of tips and leads have poured in from all over the country, Tuttoilmondo said, but so far none of them have helped solve the mystery. Police are also sifting through missing child reports in hopes of finding a match.
“We’re still going through known missing person cases. It’s a long process,” Tuttoilmondo said. “Can I say absolutely she is not a known missing person? No,” he said.
“We are getting tips literally from all over the country,” he said. “We’re going through every single one. This tells me that people are concerned.”
Galveston County Crime Stoppers has set up a memorial fund to pay for the little girl’s funeral and an account to offer rewards for anyone who helps investigators lead them to the killer. Donations can be made to Galveston County Crime Stoppers.
A fisherman found the girl late Monday night. Her body was inside a blue plastic utility box that washed ashore along the Intercoastal Waterway.
The Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the child had been dead for at least two weeks and sustained a skull fracture. The cause of death has not been determined but authorities are treating the case as a homicide.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Galveston County sheriff’s Office at 409-766-2222, the agency’s tip line at 866-248-8477 or any Crime Stoppers organization.
A prayer vigil will be held for the girl Sunday afternoon in Galveston.
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