MUM WHO MURDERED TODDLER SON WITH DRUGS MIXED IN BABY BOTTLE BEFORE HE WAS TAKEN INTO CARE IS JAILED
A mother who intentionally poisoned her one-year-old son by adding a dangerous mixture of prescription drugs to his milk in a baby bottle has been sentenced to life imprisonment for his murder.Emma Barnett, 36, from Debden in Essex, caused her son's death before he could be taken into care, following a family court ruling that he be removed from her custody.
She received a life sentence with a minimum term of 22 years on Friday at Cambridge Crown Court.
The presiding judge, Mr.
Justice Derek Sweeting, detailed the incident, revealing that Barnett had planned to participate in a remote family court hearing scheduled for 8 November 2024.
He explained that prior to the hearing, she drove to Epping Forest and collected medications prescribed to her during her trip home.
Barnett attempted to mislead investigators by claiming she visited a friend's house and later went to Epping Forest, but in fact, she was hiding in her attic with her son.
She added two prescription drugs to the juice and milk in Oakley's bottles.
After the court ordered her to surrender the child, social workers and police sought to locate Barnett to carry out the custody removal.
"As the evening progressed, concerns grew for your welfare and Oakley’s safety," the judge stated.
Barnett’s car was discovered at Epping Forest, prompting a search involving police helicopters and tracking dogs.
Shortly before midnight, police arrived at her home and heard a baby crying coming from the attic.
An officer attempted to talk her into surrendering herself, but at 12:16 am on 9 November, she confessed, "I killed him." Authorities forced entry into the property and found Oakley unresponsive.
Barnett had also attempted to take her own life.
Oakley passed away in the hospital on 31 December 2024.
The judge noted that Barnett deliberately caused her child's death and had planned her own suicide, acknowledging she suffered from a recognized mental health disorder.
Following a trial, she was convicted of murder and showed no emotion as she was taken into custody.
In a victim impact statement, Oakley's father, Jake Rose, expressed that he is "heartbroken and devastated" and will never see his son grow up, feeling a profound emptiness in his life.