Emma Barnett, from Loughton, Essex, hid in her loft after a family court hearing on November 8, 2024, which had determined that her 14-month-old son Oakley should be removed from her care
An urgent review will probe how a 14-month-old boy being monitored by social workers was fed a fatal cocktail of drugs by his mother before he could be taken into care.
Emma Barnett, 36, poisoned her son, Oakley, in November 2024, after a judge decided he should be taken away from her. Barnett, from Loughton, Essex, was found guilty of murder at Cambridge Crown Court last week and will be sentenced on Friday.
Essex County Council said the ongoing review, undertaken by the Essex Safeguarding Children Board, would be published in due course. Social services had already taken Barnett’s five other children away from her before a judge determined Oakley should also be removed on November 8, 2024. She failed to attend the hearing in Chelmsford, Essex, instead watching some of it via an online link. She murdered her son within hours of the ruling.
During Barnett’s murder trial, it emerged Oakley was made the subject of a child protection order shortly after his birth in 2023, after social workers shared concerns of “neglect”. Barnett told one of her social workers about not bonding with or loving Oakley in May 2024, and shared worries of not being able to care for him.
A spokesman for Essex County Council said: “We offer our condolences to Oakley’s loved ones during this very difficult time. There is an ongoing child safeguarding practice review into this by the Essex Safeguarding Children Board, which will be published in due course.”
Barnett was found hiding in a loft space of her home with her son Oakley on November 8, 2024. The trial at Cambridge Crown Court had heard how Barnett had collected medication from a pharmacy on the day of the family court hearing. But when she learned Oakley was to be removed from her care, she left the hearing and was later reported missing.
That same day police forced their way into her home and she was found to be in the loft. After refusing to come down, police accessed the loft where she initially told them that Oakley was sleeping, before telling them: “I have killed him.” Both were taken to hospital, but despite the best efforts of medical staff Oakley died in December 2024.
Barnett was then arrested on suspicion of murder in January 2025, but when interviewed she refused to answer any questions. A jury at Cambridge Crown Court heard that Barnett had prepared a bottle containing a mixture of milk and medication, which she gave to Oakley, causing his death.
She denied she deliberately killed her son, but a jury found her guilty following an 18-day trial. Nicola Pope, senior crown prosecutor, said: “This was an extremely tragic case, which had a profound impact on everyone involved. Emma Barnett deliberately gave her baby son a dangerous mixture containing medication which proved fatal.
“Our prosecution case relied on a detailed and careful analysis of the evidence from the police investigation, including expert medical evidence, to establish how Oakley came to die. I hope that today’s outcome provides some measure of peace to Oakley’s family and loved ones during this deeply upsetting time.”
Det Insp James Holmes, from Essex Police, said: “This was an extremely upsetting and difficult investigation for everybody involved. Our thoughts remain with Oakley and everyone who loved him.” Essex Police has already referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over its missing persons search for Oakley and Barnett.
The IOPC said it had “identified potential learning” for the force. Essex police said it had implemented those recommendations, including better searches of lofts, cellars and outbuildings.
