Pair held in Runcorn toddler death probe bailed

Nov 8 2007

scene of crime at tilbury place in, murdershaw, runcorn (yards from where two young boys where killed on M56 motorway) where a two year old toddler was found dead by police after a 999 call

TWO people arrested on suspicion of murdering a Runcorn toddler have been released on police bail.

The pair - a 22-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man - have been told to return to a police station in Runcorn, Cheshire, on January 8 next year.

Meanwhile, officers - who had been granted an extra 12 hours to question the duo - will continue to investigate the death of two-year-old Joshua Jones.

The little boy was discovered by ambulance crews at a house in Murdishaw at 10.30pm on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, neighbours named his mother as Nichola Bowman, who lived with her partner, named only as "Wayne".

Joshua's father Jason Jones, 25, who lives nearby, did not wish to comment.

Cheshire Police have not yet released details of a post-mortem examination on the youngster.

A spokesman said later that the post-mortem had not revealed a cause of death and "further inquiries will be undertaken".