SARA BARRASS HORROR IN SHEFFIELD: SHIREGREEN HOUSE OF TERROR AND MURDER PLOT REVEALED
In a chilling series of events that unfolded in the quiet suburb of Shiregreen, Sheffield, a mother named Sarah Barrass orchestrated a horrifying attempt to end the lives of her own children over a span of just 48 hours.The details of this tragic case, which have remained largely unreported until now, paint a grim picture of a family torn apart by violence, manipulation, and a disturbing history of cruelty.
On the morning of May 24, 2019, emergency services were dispatched to a scene of unimaginable horror at a residence in Shiregreen.
Paramedics, police officers, and an air ambulance arrived at approximately 7:30 am to find two teenage boys critically injured.
Tristan and Blake Barrass, aged 13 and 14 respectively, had been subjected to a brutal attack that ultimately led to their deaths within minutes of being taken to hospital.
The boys' injuries were so severe that they died just 12 minutes apart, leaving the community in shock and grief.
The court proceedings revealed that the night before their deaths, Sarah Barrass, 35, had attempted to poison her four other children by forcing them to swallow ADHD medication prescribed to one of the siblings.
This initial attempt to kill was unsuccessful, prompting her to search online for alternative methods of murder, including suffocation, drowning, and strangulation.
The following day, Barrass, along with family member Brandon Machin, 39, carried out a series of brutal killings.
Barrass strangled Tristan with her dressing gown cord, while Machin used his hands to suffocate Blake.
To ensure their deaths, both then placed bin bags over the boys' heads, a method intended to guarantee their demise.
Prior to these tragic events, Barrass had also attempted to drown one of her children by running a bath, but this effort failed.
After the murders, she took the surviving children—who were all under 13—to her bedroom and contacted the police.
During her police interview, Barrass expressed her internal conflict, stating, "I love my kids too much to kill them, I can't put them into care for the same reason." Investigations uncovered that Barrass had previously sought help from local authorities, reaching out to social services for assistance with her children.
She had sent a message to a friend saying, "I've thought of every possible solution to this mess.
I love my kids too much to kill them, I can't put them into care for the same reason." Despite her pleas, social services did not act on her warnings, a failure that her brother, Martyn Barrass, bitterly criticizes.
Martyn, 34, who lives in Wirral, Merseyside, recounted how he had warned officials about his sister's violent tendencies and concerns for the boys' safety as early as 2009 or 2010, making three separate calls to social services.
Martyn described a childhood marked by chaos and cruelty, recalling incidents where Brandon Machin and Sarah Barrass inflicted pain and suffering on animals and people alike.
He vividly remembered Brandon dragging his younger brother Blake across the floor and Sarah laughing after pushing a girl from a tree, behaviors that he recognized as signs of deep-seated violence and psychopathy.
Martyn expressed his anguish over the loss of his nephews, Blake and Tristan, whom he described as polite and kind-hearted boys who loved motorcycles and cars.
Their funeral was attended by hundreds of bikers and featured a procession led by two Lamborghinis, a testament to their vibrant personalities.
The case also revealed a disturbing fascination with horror movies and violent imagery.
Barrass and Machin were known to indulge in films featuring vampires, blood, and gore, including the notorious "A Nightmare on Elm Street" series.
Social media posts from Barrass included quotes from horror writer Stephen King, such as "Murder is like potato chips; you can't stop with just one," and an image of the Grim Reaper captioned “coming for you...” These details underscore a troubling pattern of violent interests that seemingly influenced their actions.
Both Sarah Barrass and Brandon Machin pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including the murders of Tristan and Blake, conspiracy to murder all six of her children, and attempted murder of four others.
They appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on September 27, 2019, and were warned by Judge Jeremy Richardson QC that they could face life imprisonment.
The judge indicated that a whole-life order was a strong possibility, reflecting the gravity of their crimes.
Sentencing was scheduled for November 12, 2019, with the full details of the case to be revealed at that time.
This tragic case highlights the devastating consequences of unheeded warnings and the importance of vigilant social services.
The community of Sheffield mourns the loss of two young lives and the destruction wrought within what was supposed to be a safe family home, a house of horrors that will be remembered for its brutality and the failure to protect vulnerable children.
