CAROL HODGSON'S HORRIFIC CRIME IN GUISBOROUGH: CHILD MURDER SHOCKS NORTH YORKSHIRE

In July 2022, a devastating case of child homicide unfolded in the quiet town of Guisborough, North Yorkshire, leaving the community in shock and mourning. Carol Hodgson, aged 40, was convicted of the brutal murder of her two-year-old son, Daniel Hodgson Green, an act that has profoundly impacted all who knew the family.

On the day of the tragedy, Hodgson used a plastic bag to suffocate her young son inside her residence on Upper Garth Gardens. The incident occurred amidst a tense backdrop of ongoing family disputes, as her former partner, Stefan Green, was preparing to attend a Family Court hearing seeking increased contact with his son. The timing of the murder, coinciding with the scheduled court proceedings, has led authorities and observers to believe that the act was premeditated.

Following the murder, Hodgson attempted to take her own life by inflicting cuts to her neck. She was found in her bedroom by her mother, who was performing CPR in a desperate effort to save her daughter. Emergency services arrived promptly at the scene and discovered Daniel lying lifeless beside Hodgson. Despite extensive efforts by paramedics both at the scene and later at the hospital, the young boy could not be saved. Hodgson was transported to hospital and survived her self-inflicted injuries, but her son’s life was tragically lost.

Hodgson’s actions left her family devastated. She left notes for her mother and other relatives, which prosecutors indicated suggested that she had planned the murder. The notes, along with evidence recovered from the scene, pointed towards a calculated act rather than an impulsive one. The police and forensic experts believe that Daniel was suffocated with a plastic bag, possibly from a vacuum cleaner, which was found on the bed in Hodgson’s home. Forensic pathologist Dr. Louise Mulcahy testified that her findings supported the conclusion that suffocation was the cause of death.

Stefan Green, the boy’s father, delivered a poignant victim impact statement at Teesside Crown Court. He expressed his profound grief and his desire to be part of his son’s life, lamenting that Hodgson had severed all contact with him since Daniel was a baby. Green recounted attending the court on February 2, expecting a routine family hearing, only to be confronted with the tragic news of his son’s death. His statement underscored the emotional toll of the loss and the pain of being denied access to his child.

Throughout the proceedings, Hodgson’s mental state and motives were scrutinized. She had pleaded guilty to the murder but refused to disclose how her son died, although experts have concluded that suffocation was the cause. Her defense argued that Hodgson loved her son and was genuinely remorseful, suggesting that her actions stemmed from an irrational and deeply held belief that she was compelled to act as she did. The prosecution, however, emphasized the premeditation and the vulnerability of Daniel, highlighting the betrayal of trust involved in the crime.

Judge Paul Watson QC sentenced Hodgson to life imprisonment with a minimum term of over 18 years and four months. In his remarks, the judge condemned the act as horrifying and not an act of mercy. He acknowledged Hodgson’s own attempt to end her life but stated that this did not mitigate the severity of her crime. The judge emphasized that the murder was aggravated by the victim’s vulnerability, the breach of trust, and the deliberate planning involved. Hodgson’s guilty plea was considered a mitigating factor, but the judge made it clear that the crime was profoundly heinous.

In a separate incident in June 2022, Hodgson, then aged 39, had admitted to the 'harrowing' murder of her two-year-old son, Daniel James Hodgson Green, at her home in Guisborough. The police responded to reports of severe injuries to the child and found Hodgson herself injured at the scene. Both were rushed to hospital, but Daniel succumbed to his injuries. Hodgson’s plea of murder was entered during a brief hearing, and she was remanded into custody ahead of her sentencing scheduled for July 15th. The case has left a lasting scar on the community of Guisborough and has prompted widespread discussions about child safety and mental health.