UK: Specialists searching suspected underground "punishment rooms" in the former Jersey children's home at the centre of abuse claims, have found children's teeth, it was revealed yesterday.
Two milk teeth, thought to be from a child or children aged about five, were uncovered alongside fresh bone fragments in underground chambers at Haut de la Garenne, police said.
The items are now being sent to mainland Britain for scientific tests to determine whether the teeth fell out naturally or came from a dead child. They will also confirm whether the bone fragments are human.
Although an expert has already formed a "view" on the matters raised, the tests are needed because of the "possible significance" of the find, the island's deputy police chief, Lenny Harper, said.
Forensic archaeologists made the discovery while painstakingly sifting through dust and debris removed from an area of the floor in the double chamber which had been highlighted by specialist sniffer dogs.
Last week police revealed that they had found bloodstained items in the same part of the building.
About 100 people have claimed they were abused at Haut de la Garenne since the 1960s, prompting one of biggest such investigations ever seen in the British Isles.
The former home, which later became a youth hostel, was dubbed the "house of horrors" after fragments of a child's skull were found buried under a stairwell in February.
Although tests have been unable to identify the child or accurately date the fragment, forensic examinations suggest they must have died before the 1940s.
As the forensic search got under way, two secret underground chambers, where alleged victims said they were abused and kept in solitary confinement, were uncovered first. Shackles were discovered inside one and blood spots were detected in a bath. The haunting message, "I've been bad for years and years", was found scrawled on a wooden post.
Two further underground rooms were later discovered which police say were originally one room, later divided in two during building work.
The new bone fragments and teeth were found in a small area of ground next to the temporary dividing wall which was singled out for excavation after a reaction from the dogs, Mr Harper, who is heading the inquiry, said.
It had not been confirmed if the bone fragments were human although a specialist anthropologist involved in the investigation already had a view on the matter, he added. Results of tests are expected within a week to 10 days.
Speaking about the teeth, Mr Harper told Sky News: "There is a possibility they could be from the same child, again the anthropologist has some view on whether or not they are from the same child, also as to whether or not they could have come out naturally, before death or afterwards.
"Again, in view of the possible significance of it, we are going to send it away to the UK for complete examination to try and answer some of the questions that the finds have raised." He indicated that initial examination suggested the teeth came from a child or children aged about five.
On average children's milk teeth begin falling out around the age of six, according to the British Dental Association.
He said the new discoveries could set back the date for work at the site to be completed slightly, although he predicted that it would be finished by the second week of May.
Police now expect to have to excavate the whole of the two recently found chambers as a result of the new discoveries.