‘Parker’s memory is still alive’: Community event honours baby found dead along Brantford trail 20 years ago

Sunday marked a somber anniversary in the City of Brantford. CTV's Hannah Schmidt reports.

Sunday marked a somber anniversary in the City of Brantford.

Twenty years ago, on July 28, 2005, a woman was walking with her dog on a trail near Dufferin Avenue and Parkside Drive when she discovered the body of a full-term baby, wrapped in a towel.

Officials named him Baby Parker because of his proximity to Parkside Drive.

Margaret Littlewood was the person who discovered his remains.

“I was so upset,” she told CTV News in 2016.

The baby’s mother has never been identified, despite extensive efforts by the Brantford Police Service.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the discovery, Parker’s Project hosted a community walk.

“Parker’s memory is still alive and well, even if it’s small,” said facilitator, Shalyn Wilson. “We just really love Parker. At this point, he’s like a member of our family.”

The parent-led advocacy group said they are stepping up to act as the baby’s family.

“Parker’s Project began in 2017 with a simple, but powerful mission: to ensure that no parent ever feels so overwhelmed, isolated or unsupported that they believe they have no options,” a post on the group’s Facebook page reads.

The remembrance walk began at 10 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery – where Baby Parker was ultimately laid to rest.

Shortly after, Wilson, along with her two children, sang happy birthday and shared cupcakes at the baby’s grave site as a way to commemorate the solemn anniversary.

“My priority is making sure that Parker isn’t forgotten.”

Investigation details

Following the discovery of Baby Parker’s remains, Brantford Police conducted the largest canvass in service history.

“Hundreds of DNA samples were collected from members of the public living in the neighbourhood where Baby Parker was found,” they said in a 2023 release. “The samples were sent to the Center of Forensic Sciences; however, none were found to have a biological link to Baby Parker.”

Several “persons of interests” have been identified over the last two decades.

Police said all of them have been cleared as the child’s potential parent.

On Aug. 3, 2005, less than a week after Baby Parker was found, investigators said they received a letter from a person who claimed to be the infant’s mother.

Police released portions of the letter in hopes that someone would recognize the handwriting.

“The letter, purportedly written by the mother of Baby Parker, indicated that she would be in contact with police in the coming days,” police said.

But no one ever came forward.

Brantford Police said Ontario Provincial Police were previously involved in the investigation, and even helped generate a profile of the mother. In 2005, the mother was believed to have been between 13 and 17 years old, with a connection to the Holmedale neighbourhood.

“The pregnancy was possibly kept secret by the mother from those close to her,” police said.

Continued appeal

Despite the passage of time, investigators said they remain committed to finding Baby Parker’s mother, father or anyone else who can them close the case.

“Police continue to believe that there are members of the public who have information that will be beneficial to the case,” police said.

They also believe the utilization of new investigative technology could “help build a familial lineage to move the case forward.”

Anyone with any information related to the case of Baby Parker is asked to contact Det. Const. Chris Fleming at 519-756-7050, ext. 2851.

Push for safe surrender options

Wilson said the goal of Sunday’s small gathering was not only to honour the infant but also raise awareness for maternal mental health.

“In Canada, there is no legal way to abandon a baby,” she explained. “A long-term goal is to get a Hope’s Cradle here in Brantford. Somebody with a newborn can put their newborn in and they leave with a packet of information and resources and then an alarm goes off so that firefighters or whoever is in charge of that Hope’s Cradle box is able to handle the baby, make sure they are medically okay and find them a new home.”

Parker’s Project is calling for increased provincial support and the expansion of these safe surrender initiatives they believe could help prevent similar tragedies like Baby Parker’s.

“The more support that we can provide and the more that we help people through the tough times, the more people will succeed and the less we’ll see situations like Parker’s.”

- With files from Heather Senoran