Police release photo of deceased child found on Galveston beach

GALVESTON, Texas (FOX 26) - The Galveston Police Department is doing something it never has before in an effort to get justice for a little boy found dead on the beach.  Investigators are releasing a photo of the deceased child.

"It’s really being done at this point as a last option.  We’ve exhausted all the other things that we can do to help get this child identified,” explains Galveston Police Captain Joshua Schirard.  

Officers have nicknamed him "Little Jacob".  The boy was found in the water way back in October 2017 and in all this time no parents, no loved ones have come forward to claim him.

Investigators say he was discovered unclothed just beyond the shoreline on Galveston Island dead in the water, and after three months of searching, “We’re no closer at this point to figuring out who he is,” adds Galveston Police Captain Jeff Banks.

Galveston police say since a sketch of the little guy didn’t work to identify him, that’s why they are now releasing his picture.  Detectives say he’s between three and four years old and weighs half of what a child his age should.

"Autopsy results indicate prior to his death Little Jacob showed signs of neglect and injuries consistent with abuse.  However, none of those injuries appear to have been fatal,” says Capt. Schirard.  

Also, according to the autopsy, the little boy was dead before he went into the water.  He did not drown.  

“Based on reverse drift analysis conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Weather Service, it is believed Little Jacob’s body was put in the water locally in the Galveston County area,” Schirard adds.  

As difficult as it is, investigators are asking you to take a close look at the picture to help find how a child ended up dead on the beach, how he could go unidentified for so long and who was supposed to love and protect him.

"I got a little boy that no one is telling me who he is.  I just hope eventually we can identify him, move forward and find out what happened to him,” says Detective Banks. 

Investigators believe the little boy’s body was in the water 12 to 48 hours before he was found. They are working on tracing familial DNA, to track down any relatives who might be on file in the national DNA database.

There is a $10,000 reward if you can help identify the little boy and lead detectives to his parents or guardians.  Call 1-800-CALL-FBI if you have helpful information.