The Oak Ridge Police Department, working with the National Center, found a child last seen in Oak Ridge in 2016 and identified a newborn baby found floating along the shoreline of Lake Melton Hill nearly three years ago. I’m here.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children posted information about the two children on its website.
In the first case, investigators said Maria Contreras Lopez was last seen in Oak Ridge on September 29, 2016. She was born on August 9, 2000 and was last seen. She was 16 at the time. She is 22 now. Maria is a Hispanic woman with brown hair and eyes. She can be about 5 feet 3 inches and 115 pounds.
In the second case, investigators said fishermen found the dead newborn baby floating along the shores of Melton Hill Lake on March 26, 2020. The male child was found near the intersection of Melton Lake Drive and Edgemoor Road in Oak Ridge. Authorities named the toddler “Baby Wyatt,” which means “little warrior.” Investigators said he was estimated to be less than a day old, about 34 weeks pregnant, with dark, thin, bushy curly hair.
“Unfortunately, due to environmental conditions, his race is currently unknown,” investigators said.
A long-sleeved dark plaid shirt was recovered along with an unidentified newborn. Authorities have provided a digitally created image of the shirt and a reconstructed image of Baby Wyatt’s face by an NCMEC forensic artist, showing him what he looked like during his lifetime.
Authorities are actively working with outside forensic experts to identify Baby Wyatt through a forensic family tree, investigators said.
On Tuesday, ORPD Lt. Roy Heinz said both cases are currently under investigation. He said ORPD is working with his NCMEC and working with investigative partners, ORPD investigator Jason Robbins wrote the story for the Baby Wyatt poster on his NCMEC website. .
ORPD and the Center are asking for your help.For information or tips, call 1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST) or the Oak Ridge Police Department at 1-865-425-3504 or 1-865-425-4399 can send mail to [email protected].
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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