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Did back-from-dead canoeist steal dead baby's identity?
A FAMILY today spoke of their shock after a Sunderland baby, who died more than 50 years ago, was dragged into the saga of missing canoeist John Darwin.
Questions were today being asked whether the identity of John Jones, a baby who died at just one-month-old, was used by Darwin after he was presumed dead.
John Jones was born on March 27, 1950, at his grandmother's home in Sunderland. He died five weeks later from enteritis.
Now, his sister, Frieda Woods, 55, who still lives in Sunderland, said: "I feel terrible, it's such a shock." Cleveland Police confirmed they were looking at the use of the name John Jones as part of their inquiry.
It has been claimed Darwin, 57, used a fake identity on trips to Gibraltar and Spain in 2005, and last year to travel to Panama City and Costa Rica with wife Anne, 55.
Darwin, formerly of Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, is accused of making an untrue statement to procure a passport, and dishonestly obtaining 25,000.
He appeared before magistrates in Hartlepool earlier this week and was remanded in custody until Friday.
John Jones was the son of river worker Alfred Jones and his wife Lily.
Buried on May 3, 1950, his body now lies in Sunderland cemetery.
The spot is marked by a plain white plaque and mass of leaves.
Information has flooded in during recent days from around the world after police released a photo of Darwin showing him with a beard.
The former prison worker disappeared following an apparent kayak tragedy in 2002. His sudden resurfacing has made headlines around the world in recent days.
Mrs Woods, who still lives near the cemetery where John Jones is buried, said: "My parents are now dead, but they never forgot him. John was their first born, he was the eldest of nine."
The baby was born five months before John Darwin.
Mr Darwin's wife Anne, appeared before magistrates yesterday accused of dishonestly obtaining 162,515 with claims on insurance and mortgage cover. She was remanded in custody until Friday
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Weather for South Shields
Saturday 11 February 2012
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Temperature: 1 C to 4 C
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