Missing Toddler Found Dead In 'Builder's Bucket' In Backyard Garden

A 2-year-old girl who disappeared from her home was discovered dead in a builder’s black bucket, neighbors said.

The toddler, who has not been identified, was reported missing at around 4 pm on Jan. 29.

She was located by a police dog in the back garden of an under-construction property in Dagenham, East London, less than an hour after police launched their manhunt for the child.

Investigators said they found the toddler unresponsive in a "builders' bucket" at the back of the property, The Sun reported.

"The girl was found unresponsive in the garden," a Met Police spokesperson said.

"Despite the efforts of paramedics, she was pronounced dead at the scene. The death is being treated as unexplained," the official added.

It is not clear whether the location in Reede Road was the toddler’s family home, however, neighbors have alleged it was not.

Shorifa Begum, 44, who lives immediately next door, in Dagenham, London, said: "On Sunday I went to the house and I asked ‘what happened did you find her?"

"They said she had died. They told me to come and see."

"They took me to their garden and said she was in a black bucket. They found her in a large black bucket and said she was dead."

"The bucket was next to a wall in the garden. A police dog had found it."

"There was a little bit of water in the bucket. It is still not clear how or why she died."

According to reports, investigators believe the baby girl had drowned to death.

"I don’t know anything other than that the police told me the girl had drowned," another neighbor, who did not wish to be identified, said.

"They were asking me for details and told me she had drowned. That is all I know."

"Police have confirmed that no arrests have been made, and a post-mortem is due to take place later this week."

"Yesterday we heard she had died from a customer. Everyone is sad."

No arrests have been made so far and an autopsy will take place later this week, authorities said, adding that the child’s family has been informed and further probe is underway.

"Police came in asking if we had seen a two-year-old girl. Then left," a shop owner told the Evening Standard.

"We found out later she was found dead, it’s so horrific. I can’t believe it."

"The house is only 200 meters away from us but we didn’t hear anything."