Emma Barnett, 36, was found guilty in the United Kingdom of the murder of her 14-month-old son after giving him a lethal mixture of milk and medication. The little boy, named Oakley, died in November 2024 after suffering cardiac arrest caused by the substances in his system.
The woman was due to attend a court hearing that day related to custody of the child, but she did not appear. Instead, she bought the medication and then sent messages that led authorities to believe she had disappeared with the boy.
Hours later, police found her hiding in the attic of her home next to the unconscious baby, with traces of white liquid around his mouth and nose. Although medical teams managed to revive him, he died days later due to irreversible brain damage caused by the poisoning.
During the trial, the woman claimed she had prepared the mixture in an attempt to take her own life, but the evidence presented by the prosecution showed that she gave it to the child. Sentencing will be handed down in June 2026.