A tragic and heartbreaking incident has unfolded within the walls of HMP Styal in Cheshire. Rachel Tunstill, a 32-year-old woman who was serving a life sentence for the murder of her own baby, has been found dead. The circumstances surrounding her passing are currently under investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.
In January 2017, Tunstill brutally stabbed her newborn daughter, Mia Kelly, shortly after giving birth alone in her bathroom in Burnley, Lancashire. Shockingly, her partner was completely unaware of the horrifying events unfolding just a few feet away, as he was deeply engrossed in playing Xbox in the next room. After the gruesome act, Tunstill disposed of baby Mia’s lifeless body in plastic bags placed within a kitchen bin.
Initially, Tunstill was found guilty of murder and sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison. However, an appeals court judge later overturned the conviction, ruling that the jury should have been given the option to consider a verdict of infanticide. Despite the retrial at Liverpool Crown Court, Tunstill was ultimately found guilty of murder once again and given a life sentence with a minimum term of 17 years before being considered for release.
The tragic death of Tunstill in custody has raised concerns, leading to an investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman to ascertain the circumstances surrounding her passing. At this time, the cause of her death has not been disclosed by the Prison Service.
As the trials unfolded, evidence emerged that Tunstill, a psychology graduate and deputy manager at a residential home for individuals with mental health issues, had been diagnosed with high-functioning autism. She claimed to be unaware of her full-term pregnancy and mistakenly believed she was experiencing a miscarriage.
Disturbingly, it was revealed that in the weeks leading up to the delivery, Tunstill had searched the internet for information on how to terminate a late pregnancy. She even looked into details about Mick Philpott, a notorious killer responsible for murdering six of his own children in a house fire.
During her time in prison, Tunstill reported hearing voices and made references to being similar to Rose West, a serial killer known for her involvement in torturing and murdering young women. Mr. Justice King, in his sentencing remarks, described the killing as a sustained and frenzied attack on a particularly vulnerable victim due to her young age. He condemned Tunstill’s actions, emphasizing that as a mother, her duty was to care for and protect her newborn baby, not cause harm in such a brutal manner.
The tragic murder of baby Mia has left many unanswered questions about what led Tunstill to commit such a heinous act. Though the details of her mental state and motivations may never be fully understood, the loss of an innocent life and the pain endured by her family remain deeply troubling.
As authorities continue to investigate Rachel Tunstill’s death in prison, their focus is on ensuring that all necessary measures are taken to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. This case underscores the importance of providing adequate mental health support and intervention for individuals at risk to prevent devastating outcomes. Our thoughts go out to the family of baby Mia during this difficult time.
