Burnley: Mum who murdered baby with scissor dies in HMP Styal
Rachel Tunstill, 32, who had been serving a life sentence for the murder of her newborn daughter, Mia Kelly, was found dead in HMP Styal, Cheshire. Her death is currently under investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. Tunstill’s case had garnered significant media attention due to the gruesome nature of the crime and the complex legal proceedings that followed.
Burnley Baby Killer Dies Suddenly in Prison
The tragic incident dates back to 2017 when Rachel Tunstill, a psychology graduate and deputy manager, killed her newborn baby, Mia, just moments after giving birth. Tunstill used scissors to stab Mia multiple times before disposing of the body in a bin in her flat. Initially convicted of murder, the case took several turns as new information emerged about Tunstill’s mental state and circumstances surrounding the crime.
Legal Proceedings
Rachel Tunstill was first convicted of Mia’s murder, but her sentence was later altered to infanticide by an appeals court, citing her mental health conditions at the time of the crime. Despite this, Tunstill was retried and found guilty of murder again. The judge described the act as a brutal and senseless attack on a vulnerable newborn.
Mental Health and Autism
During the trials, it was revealed that Tunstill had autism and was under the impression that she was having a miscarriage rather than a full-term pregnancy. Her psychological state at the time of the crime became a focal point in the court discussions. Tunstill’s defense argued that her mental health issues, combined with her misunderstanding of the situation, contributed significantly to her actions.
Internet Searches and Infamy
The trials also unearthed disturbing details about Tunstill’s internet search history. She had searched for information on notorious killers and seemed fascinated by infamous cases of infanticide and violence. These details painted a grim picture of Tunstill’s mindset leading up to the murder.
The Need for Mental Health Support
Rachel Tunstill’s case highlights critical issues regarding mental health support, particularly for individuals with autism and those experiencing severe psychological distress. The need for better mental health services within the criminal justice system is apparent, as such support could potentially prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
Investigation of Her Death
The exact circumstances of Tunstill’s death in prison remain unclear, and authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will oversee this investigation, aiming to provide clarity on whether her death was due to natural causes, self-harm, or other factors.
A Society’s Responsibility
Rachel Tunstill’s story is a tragic reminder of the complex interplay between mental health, criminal justice, and societal responsibility. Her actions were undoubtedly heinous, but the underlying issues leading to such a tragedy call for a deeper understanding and systemic changes to support vulnerable individuals better.
In conclusion, the death of Rachel Tunstill marks the end of a harrowing chapter, but it also opens a discussion on the need for comprehensive mental health care and preventive measures within society and the justice system. As the investigation into her death continues, it remains a stark reminder of the importance of addressing mental health issues proactively to prevent such devastating outcomes.
A mother who stabbed her new-born baby to death with scissors after telling her boyfriend she had miscarried has died in prison.
A prison service spokesman confirmed that Rachel Tunstill, 32, died at HMP Styal in Cheshire.
Tunstill, who killed Mia Kelly in the bathroom of her Burnley home and dumped her body in a bin in 2017 and was later jailed for life.
The spokesman said “this was not a self inflicted death”.
A statement from the Prison Service statement said: “HMP Styal prisoner Rachel Tunstill died in custody on 1 August 2023.
“As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.”
Tunstill was first convicted of murder in June 2017 and handed a life sentence, with a minimum term of 20 years.
But the conviction was quashed in July the following year after Appeal Court judges ruled the jury should have been allowed to consider lesser charges.
Following a retrial in 2019, she was convicted again and ordered to serve a minimum of 17 years.
Who is Rachel Tunstill?
Mental healthcare boss Tunstill stabbed her daughter to death with a pair of scissors in the bathroom of her home in Burnley, Lancashire, and then placed her body in plastic bags before dumping it in the kitchen bin.
Tunstill, a psychology graduate, had high-functioning autistic spectrum disorder.
She had claimed she was unaware her pregnancy was virtually full-term and thought she was having a miscarriage at the flat in Wellington Court she shared with her partner, forklift driver Ryan Kelly, 31.
But her trial heard the baby was almost full-term and she was 37 to 38 weeks pregnant.In the weeks leading up to the birth Tunstill, a deputy manager at a residential home for people with mental health issues, carried out internet searches for terms including “how to end a pregnancy late”.
She also searched for information on notorious killer Mick Philpott, who murdered six of his own children in a house fire, and the court heard she had said she was interested in how somebody described as a “psychopath” could have cried on television about the deaths before his guilt was revealed.
After her original conviction was quashed, the jury at Tunstill’s second trial was able to consider alternatives of manslaughter, manslaughter with diminished responsibility or infanticide.
The defence said Tunstill’s balance of mind was disturbed in the period following the birth and that she suffered “an acute stress reaction”.
However, Tunstill was once more found guilty of murder and jailed for life for a second time in 2019.
