Rachel Tunstill, aged 32, who was convicted in 2017 for the murder of her newborn daughter, Mia Kelly, was discovered deceased at HMP Styal in Cheshire. Tunstill had fatally stabbed Mia with scissors and subsequently disposed of her body in a waste bin. Although she was initially sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, her conviction was later altered to infanticide; however, a retrial reinstated the original life sentence.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is currently conducting an investigation into her death. During the trial, it was disclosed that Tunstill, a psychology graduate diagnosed with autism, believed she was undergoing a miscarriage. Disturbing online searches and references to infamous criminals were also revealed. The presiding judge characterized the act as a horrific assault on a defenseless infant. This case underscores the urgent necessity for sufficient mental health support and preventive strategies to avert such tragedies.
