{"id":4877,"date":"2026-06-06T05:40:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T05:40:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/essex-mum-jailed-for-21-years-after-murdering-her-14-month-old-son-and-hiding-from-police-in-loft\/"},"modified":"2026-06-06T05:40:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T05:40:16","slug":"essex-mum-jailed-for-21-years-after-murdering-her-14-month-old-son-and-hiding-from-police-in-loft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/essex-mum-jailed-for-21-years-after-murdering-her-14-month-old-son-and-hiding-from-police-in-loft\/","title":{"rendered":"Essex mum jailed for 21 years after murdering her 14-month-old son and hiding from police in loft"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_13ef38\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT Emma Barnett was convicted of murdering her 14-month-old son Oakley after giving him a fatal mixture of milk and medication at their home in Debden, Essex, in November 2024<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37256731\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Emma Barnett in custody\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37256731.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/2_20260528-emma-barnett.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37256731.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/2_20260528-emma-barnett.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37256731.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/2_20260528-emma-barnett.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37256731.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/2_20260528-emma-barnett.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Barnett has been found guilty of murdering her son\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Barnett has been found guilty of murdering her son<cite aria-label=\"Image: Essex Police\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Essex Police)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A woman from Essex has been handed a life sentence after being found guilty of <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/murder\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">murdering <\/a>her 14-month-old son.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Emma Barnett, from Debden, was convicted of a single count of murder at Cambridge<a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/courts\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\"> Crown Court<\/a> on hursday, 28 May. Throughout the 18-day trial, jurors heard how the 36 year old had administered a fatal combination of milk and medication to her son Oakley.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Honourable Mr Justice Sweeting, delivering his sentencing remarks on Friday, 5 June, noted there had been an element of &#8220;planning and preparation&#8221; and that Barnett had &#8220;deprived Oakley of all the life he had ahead of him&#8221;. He sentenced her to a minimum term of 21 years and seven days. Emergency services were called to her home on Chester Road in November 2024 following concerns raised over the welfare of both Barnett and Oakley.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37256732\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37256732\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"An image depicts a young child seated on a red toy car in a garden setting, with another individual supporting the child from behind. The child appears to be engaged in play, and the environment suggests an outdoor, possibly backyard, location with greenery in the background.\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37256732.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_20260602-Oakley-Barnett-family-approved-image.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37256732.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_20260602-Oakley-Barnett-family-approved-image.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37256732.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_20260602-Oakley-Barnett-family-approved-image.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37256732.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_20260602-Oakley-Barnett-family-approved-image.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"14-month-old toddler Oakley Barnett was murdered by Emma Barnett\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">14-month-old toddler Oakley Barnett was murdered by Emma Barnett<cite aria-label=\"Image: Family Handout\/Essex Police\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Family Handout\/Essex Police)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The pair had initially been reported as missing. When officers searched the property, they discovered Barnett concealed in the loft with Oakley. After speaking with Barnett, police grew increasingly alarmed for the young boy&#8217;s wellbeing. Barnett refused to open the loft hatch and come down reports <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.essexlive.news\/news\/essex-news\/essex-mum-who-murdered-son-11001725\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Essex Live<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Officers forced their way in after Barnett declared: &#8220;I have killed him.&#8221; Oakley subsequently passed away in hospital. Barnett received medical treatment before being arrested on suspicion of murder in January 2025. She was interviewed and formally charged in June.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Following Barnett&#8217;s conviction last week, Oakley&#8217;s family paid tribute to him, saying: &#8220;Oakley filled every room with light, laughter, and love. With his beautiful curly hair and huge blue eyes, he captured the hearts of everyone who met him. His smile could brighten even the darkest day, and his gentle spirit brought so much happiness to our family.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector James Holmes said: &#8220;This was an extremely tragic and distressing case. It has had a last impacting on all of us that worked on the investigation. Barnett committed this terrible act and today she has rightfully been sentenced for her actions. I hope this brings closure for Oakley&#8217;s loved ones and helps them move forward. Our thoughts are with them and Oakley.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/mum-jailed-for-murdering-son-37256735\" target=\"_blank\">Source link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT Emma Barnett was convicted of murdering her 14-month-old son Oakley after giving<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4878,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4877","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2_20260528-emma-barnett.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4877","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4877"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4877\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4878"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4877"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4877"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4877"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}