Rockaway Beach Crime: How a detective hopes a blanket and DNA evidence will lead him to a toddler's murderer

Two walkers strolling along Rockaway Beach on the freezing afternoon of February 5, 2005, made a horrifying discovery: the body of a dead toddler lying not far from where the cold, wintry waves hit the shore.

The mystery behind who killed the toddler has existed for 20 years, but investigators like Detective Matthew Debonis of the NYPD Cold Case Squad say they are working hard to close the murder story once and for all and bring the child's murder story to light Murderer on trial.

According to police, nearly two decades ago, two women were peacefully walking their dog along the beach near Beach 110th St. collecting seashells when they came across an eye-catching blanket next to a piece of driftwood. As they approached the fabric, the two were horrified to discover the human remains of a young boy hidden in the water and sand.

Debonis said the loss had a devastating impact on the Far Rockaway community. In the days following the tragedy, mourners erected a makeshift memorial.

He also says it had an impact on those working to solve the case, especially since many of the officers are parents themselves. Police named the lost boy John Valentine Hope.

“The name Hope means we never want to give up on identifying him or finding out what happened to him,” Debonis said. “I am very hopeful. I hope that by publishing this article, someone will come forward, especially someone who remembers this blanket, and just give us a lead that we can follow up on.”

The blanket in which the dead toddler was found was distinctive and rare, according to the investigator.

“These remains are proven to be those of a young boy between the ages of three and five. “They were wrapped in a Disney bed sheet and a yellow canvas duffel bag,” Debonis told amNewYork Metro. “It’s very distinctive, this Disney leaf. It features a Walt Disney 82 fire chief with various Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse dressed as a firefighter.”

Investigators believe the child was abused before being intentionally thrown into the water and washed up. He had suffered broken ribs and vertebrae – and he had also been decapitated; The head was never recovered. While investigators suspect some of the injuries may have occurred during decompression, an autopsy concluded the body was traumatized before it was placed in the water.

Police also reported that they are using DNA extracted from the remains to try to track down a family member who may know what happened.

The detective says he and the rest of the department won't rest until Baby Hope gets justice.

“To do this to a child is a terrible thing,” Debonis said. “We will not rest until we solve this case.”

Anyone with information about this cold case can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or on X (formerly Twitter). @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are treated confidentially.