Essex Woman Sentenced to Life for Poisoning Infant Son with Multiple Drugs

An Essex woman has been sentenced to life imprisonment after murdering her one-year-old son by poisoning him with a lethal combination of prescription medications mixed into milk and juice bottles.

Emma Barnett, 36, from Debden, Essex, was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 22 years at Cambridge Crown Court after being found guilty of murdering her 14-month-old son, Oakley.

The court heard that Barnett carried out the killing shortly before social services were due to remove the child from her care following a family court ruling on 8 November 2024.

Mr Justice Derek Sweeting told the court that Barnett had joined a family court hearing remotely that day after collecting medications prescribed to her while driving through Epping Forest. Prosecutors said she later hid in the loft of her home with Oakley while creating a false trail to suggest she had travelled elsewhere.

According to evidence presented in court, Barnett mixed the antihistamine promethazine and antidepressant mirtazapine into Oakley’s bottles containing milk and juice. Authorities launched an urgent search after she disappeared with the toddler following the court decision.

Police and social workers searched throughout the evening as concerns for Oakley’s safety increased. Officers later located Barnett’s car in Epping Forest, prompting a large-scale search operation involving helicopters and police dogs.

Shortly before midnight, officers arrived at Barnett’s address and heard a baby crying from the loft. During attempts to negotiate with her, Barnett reportedly told police: “I killed him.”

Officers forced entry and found Oakley unconscious while Barnett had also attempted to take her own life. The child was taken to hospital but died on 31 December 2024.

Passing sentence, Mr Justice Sweeting described the case as “the killing of a very young and vulnerable child wholly dependent on you brought about by your deliberate actions.”