Police say that after reports of woman giving birth to stillborn, death now being treated as suspicious

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

A vicar, his wife and his daughter are being questioned over the suspicious death of a baby boy.

Sources confirmed that the Rev Jim Percival, 64, the vicar of Holy Trinity Church of England church in Freckleton, Lancashire, was arrested earlier this week together with his 65-year-old wife Susan and 28-year-old daughter Ruth.

Percival and his daughter are being questioned on suspicion of murder and conspiracy to conceal the birth of a child. His wife is being quizzed on suspicion of conspiracy to conceal the birth of a child.

The arrests on Tuesday came after police were called to an address in Freckleton – believed to be the vicarage – shortly before 6pm on 25 November following an initial report that a woman had given birth to a stillborn baby.

In a statement, Lancashire constabulary said: “When police attended, the body of a newly-born baby boy was discovered at the address and an investigation was launched. The baby’s mother, a 28-year-old woman, was taken by ambulance to Blackpool Victoria hospital where she was treated and later released.

“Following numerous inquiries, the death of the baby boy is now being treated as suspicious.

“A postmortem examination has been carried out and the cause of death is currently inconclusive. Further tests are now being carried out to try to establish exactly how the baby died.

“A 64-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman from Freckleton have been arrested on suspicion of murder, conspiracy to conceal the birth of a child … and a 65-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to conceal the birth of a child. They are all currently in custody.”

It is understood that on Wednesday night, police were granted an additional 30 hours to question the three.

A neighbour said: “It’s all a bit of a shock. They are a quiet family. We only know them to say hello.

“I didn’t even know the daughter was pregnant.”

A spokesman for the diocese of Blackburn said: “The diocese is aware of the situation regarding Rev Jim Percival and his family.

“We have been liaising closely with Lancashire police and are offering pastoral support to the church and the local community and will continue to do so.”