It’s been nearly a year since the body of a newborn baby girl, now known only as Ava, was found in a Little Hulton field, and police are hoping a pair of cartoon donkey underwear will finally crack the case.
Yes, donkey underwear.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed that the brightly patterned, non-UK-manufactured large-size ladies’ pants recovered near the scene may hold the key to uncovering Ava’s origins, and no, this isn’t an episode of CSI: Salford.
Detectives say the pants are crucial because DNA extracted from them hasn’t matched any known profiles, and their quirky donkey motif might jog someone’s memory. (If you’ve ever thought “those pants are unforgettable,” now’s your moment.)
“We’ve brought in anthropologists, entomologists, archaeologists, basically everyone but Mystic Meg, to help us understand what happened,” said DCI Charlotte Whalley. “We’re now appealing to the public, because there’s only so far you can go with donkey pants and educated guesses.”
Ava was born full-term, around 38–39 weeks, and police believe the pregnancy was unregistered or concealed. Despite a national broadcast on Crimewatch Live and hundreds of public tips, her parents remain unidentified.
“We’re not here to punish or shame,” Whalley added. “We just want to understand what happened, offer support, and give Ava the dignity she deserves.”
Public response has been heartfelt, with many locals leaving flowers at the site and expressing frustration that a full year later, a child remains nameless and unanswered for, except for the name Ava, given by officers as a mark of humanity in a world often short on it.
Anyone with information, about the baby, the underwear, or the circumstances, is urged to contact GMP on 101 quoting log 1319 of 20/11/24. Or if the pants really do ring a bell, try the Major Incident Public Portal.
If nothing else, let Ava be remembered, not for donkeys on cotton, but for a life that should’ve had more time.
