A mother has been sentenced to prison for causing the death of her 14-month-old child by giving him a mixture of milk and prescription drugs as he was on the verge of being placed in care.

Emma Barnett, residing in Debden, Essex, fatally poisoned her son, Oakley, and secluded themselves in a loft at her residence in Loughton after a court ruling in November 2024 decided to remove him from her custody. Tragically, the toddler passed away in the hospital within two months.

Following an 18-day trial at Cambridge Crown Court, Barnett, 36, residing on Chester Road, was convicted of murder on May 28. She received a life sentence, with a minimum term of 22 years, at the same court.

During the trial, Mr. Justice Derek Sweeting mentioned that Barnett was reported missing after the online family court hearing on November 8, 2024. The judge highlighted that social workers were actively searching for her to ensure Oakley’s safety and implement the court’s decision to remove him from her care.

Barnett’s actions included parking her vehicle at Epping Forest before returning home to hide with her son in the loft. When authorities entered the residence, she initially resisted showing Oakley to them, claiming he was asleep. However, she later confessed to the police that she had taken her son’s life.

The court was informed that Barnett attempted to harm herself in the presence of the police and had ingested an overdose of paracetamol. The prosecution contended that Barnett deliberately administered a lethal mixture of medication to Oakley with the intent to kill him.

Evidence presented in court revealed that Barnett had prepared a bottle containing a combination of milk, promethazine, an antihistamine inducing sedation, and mirtazapine, an antidepressant. The judge disclosed that these substances, when combined, could lead to respiratory complications, ultimately resulting in Oakley’s demise.

Senior Crown Prosecutor Nicola Pope stated, “Emma Barnett intentionally provided her infant son with a deadly concoction of medication, leading to his tragic death. Our case relied on thorough analysis of evidence, including expert medical testimony, to establish the circumstances surrounding Oakley’s passing.”

In a heartfelt tribute shared by Essex Police post-conviction, Oakley’s family reminisced about his joyful demeanor and the light he brought into their lives, expressing their profound sorrow over his loss and gratitude for the time spent with him.

In a separate tribute, Oakley’s father expressed his everlasting love for his son and the deep sense of loss he feels for the missed opportunities of building a father-son relationship and sharing precious moments together.