Derek and David Bousquet
Derek Bousquet (born Derek D'Alton; 27 February 1940 – 1946 or after) and his half-brother David Bousquet (born David D'Alton; 24 June 1941 – 1946 or after), known in the media as The Babes in the Woods prior to their identification, were Canadian children. Their skeletal bodies were discovered in Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on 14 January 1953 by Albert Tong, a gardener who unearthed the children's graves whilst clearing brush behind a bush.[1] The coroner revealed that the children died via homicide by beating, which caused skull fractures. A hatchet (a type of axe) was found near the children's graves, along with what is believed to be their clothing and shoes. For more than 6 decades after the children's bodies were discovered, they remained unidentified. They were finally identified in June 2022, when their great-grand niece Ally did a DNA test to find out more about her ancestors and family. Derek and David's family had been told that the boys had been taken away by government ministry because their mother was too poor to take care of them.[2]
Derek Bousquet | |
|---|---|
| Born | Derek D'Alton 27 February 1940 |
| Disappeared | 1946 or after Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Died | 1946 or after |
| Cause of death | Homicide by beating |
| Body discovered | January 14, 1953 Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Other names | Babes in the Wood (prior to identification) |
| Known for | Unidentified and unsolved murder victim who remained unidentified for more than 6 decades. |
| Parent(s) |
|
| Relatives | David Bousquet (half-brother) |
David Bousquet | |
|---|---|
| Born | David D'Alton 24 June 1941 |
| Disappeared | 1946 or after Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Died | 1946 or after |
| Cause of death | Homicide by beating |
| Body discovered | January 14, 1953 Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Other names | Babes in the Woods (prior to identification) |
| Known for | Unidentified and unsolved murder victim who remained unidentified for more than 6 decades. |
| Parent(s) |
|
| Relatives | Derek Bousquet (half-brother) |
Biography
Derek D'Alton (later Bousquet) was born on 27 February 1940 in the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and his younger half-brother David was born on 24 June 1941, to Eileen Bousquet (born 18 August 1917 – died 11 June 1996), and a unknown father, whose surname was probably D'Alton. The children had a elder sister named Diane (born 16 July 1937 – died 19 July 2020). Eileen raised her children in the city of Vancouver. Eileen's children were raised in poverty, with Eileen often failing to pay rent to the landlord for the apartment they were living in, which caused the family to move frequently. By c. 1946, Eileen was able to buy a house in Kitsilano, for her family.
Derek and his sister Diane attended Henry Hudson Elementary School, a six minute walk from their house. At one point Diane asked her mother where her brothers were. Her mother said they had been taken away by the ministry as she was too poor to take care of them. Diane wondered about the whereabouts of her brothers for the rest of her life.
Eileen died on 11 June 1996, and her daughter Diane died on 19 July 2020.
Derek And David Bousquet Media
SEC Nation filming at Centennial Olympic Park, 2018
References
- ↑ New clues may revive 60-year-old ‘Babes in the Woods’ caseThe Province. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ↑ VPD identifies child victims in historic cold case murderVancouver Police Department. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
