Cold case of Norton baby Kimberley Jackson found in pool of water

The youngster was cruelly taken from Carmel Gardens in Norton at dusk on January 19 while her mum Sandra was preparing her bedtime bottle. 

But tragically, two hours later, her body was found lying face down in a pool of water on marshy Billingham Bottoms, less than a mile from her home. 

Kimberley had been drowned – and her pram had been found nearby.

The killing was said to have brought “terror to mothers living on the north bank of the Tees” at the time, as reported in The Northern Echo in 1973. 

A major murder investigation was launched by Cleveland Police at the time, with around 50 detectives from across Teesside and County Durham combing the area and knocking on doors.

Kimberley Jackson was taken from her home in Norton (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

Statements were taken from thousands of people living in the area before one clue emerged in the case; a boy had been seen wheeling a pram in the area at the time. 

Police pulled together an image of what the boy – believed to be between 11 and 14-years-old – looked like, and was sent out to every shop and office nearby. 

Despite thousands of hours and school visits, the mysterious boy was never found.

The year after the killing, The Northern Echo reported how the flood of calls to Stockton 52603, the murder squad headquarters at Billingham, had started to slow. 

“People suddenly stopped talking about the murder”, a story said. 

Carmel Gardens, in Norton, today (Image: GOOGLE)

Nobody was ever charged in relation to the death of Kimberley. 

Adam Harland, manager of the Cleveland Police Cold Case Review Unit, said: “We would always welcome new information on any unsolved, historic murder case.

“Over time, we know that allegiances change and people may now be more inclined to come forward and speak to police about what they know.

“The slightest bit of information could help provide closure for families, and allow them to move forward without questions hanging over them about what happened to their loved ones. We also want to provide justice for these families and the victims, and protect our communities.

“Anyone who wishes to pass on information is asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101, or pass information anonymously to Crimestoppers online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling 0800 555 111.”

Kimberley’s death is one of the many unsolved deaths or disappearances across the region that the Echo will be reporting on as part of our new ‘North East cold cases’ series.