An immediate investigation is underway to examine how a 14-month-old toddler under the supervision of social workers was fatally given a combination of drugs by his mother before being placed in protective custody.
Emma Barnett, a 36-year-old woman from Loughton, Essex, poisoned her son, Oakley, in November 2024, after a court ruling that he should be removed from her care. Barnett was convicted of murder at Cambridge Crown Court recently and is awaiting sentencing.
Essex County Council announced that an ongoing review by the Essex Safeguarding Children Board will be released in the near future. Prior to the decision to remove Oakley on November 8, 2024, social services had already removed Barnett’s other five children. Barnett did not appear at the Chelmsford hearing, instead following it partially online and committing the crime shortly after.
During Barnett’s trial for murder, it was revealed that Oakley had been subject to a child protection order since his birth in 2023 due to concerns of neglect. Barnett expressed to social workers in May 2024 that she had trouble bonding with and caring for Oakley.
Expressing condolences to Oakley’s family, an Essex County Council spokesperson mentioned the ongoing child safeguarding review by the Essex Safeguarding Children Board.
On November 8, 2024, Barnett was found hiding in her home’s loft with Oakley. Following a pharmacy visit on the day of the court hearing, Barnett left upon learning Oakley would be taken away. Police discovered her in the loft where she confessed to harming Oakley, leading to both being hospitalized, but Oakley succumbed to his injuries in December 2024.
Arrested in January 2025 on suspicion of murder, Barnett remained silent during questioning. Despite denying intent to harm her son, a jury convicted her after an 18-day trial. Nicola Pope, senior crown prosecutor, described the tragic incident and expressed hope for closure for Oakley’s family.
Detective Inspector James Holmes of Essex Police acknowledged the challenging investigation and expressed sympathy for Oakley and his loved ones. Essex Police has self-referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) regarding the missing persons search for Oakley and Barnett.
The IOPC noted areas for improvement in Essex Police’s handling of the case, leading to enhanced search protocols in various locations.
