Everything we know so far following death of child in Staffordshire woods

A quiet area of south Staffordshire has become a crime scene and a place of mourning since the death of a three-month-old girl at the weekend.

The area around Strawberry Lane and the Wyrley and Essington nature reserve has seen a hive of police activity since the death on Saturday, with police investigators working at the scene.

It has also seen dozens of tributes, including flowers and toys, left at the nature reserve as a community takes in the enormity of what has happened in their area.

We’ve looked back over the last past five days at all the events surrounding the death as the police investigation continues:

Saturday, September 5

Staffordshire Police said it was called to Great Wyrley after reports of a child in cardiac arrest, with West Midlands Ambulance Service and Midlands Air Ambulance crews also attending.

Sadly, the child was pronounced dead by paramedics shortly after and, on the Saturday evening, Staffordshire Police said the child’s death was being treated as unexplained and officers remained at the scene.

A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: “We were called to land off Strawberry Lane, Great Wyrley, at 8.45am today by colleagues from West Midlands Ambulance Service, who were responding to a report of a child in cardiac arrest.

“Officers attended alongside Midlands Air Ambulance.

“Sadly, the child was pronounced dead by paramedics a short time later.

“The death is currently being treated as unexplained.

“Officers remain at the scene.”

Sunday, September 6

It was confirmed by Staffordshire Police that the death had been that of a three-month-old girl and also said the child’s family were understood to have been camping in the area.

The force said officers were still in the area carrying out enquiries into what happened and to provide reassurance to the local community.

Detective Inspector Katie Gregory said: “While the investigation remains at an early stage, this is an isolated incident and we understand that the child’s family was camping in the area.

“The death is being treated as unexplained at this time.”

Monday, September 7

Staffordshire Police confirmed that a 42-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman, both from South Staffordshire, a 20-year-old woman from Wolverhampton and an 18-year-old man from Walsall were arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder.

All four have since been released on conditional bail while inquiries continue.

Detective Inspector Josh Lee, from Staffordshire Police's child protection team, sought to reassure residents and stressed that detectives were keeping an open mind about the circumstances surrounding the baby's death.

He said: "I want to assure the local community that we are working around the clock to investigate the circumstances of this tragic incident, which has understandably caused concern.

"While we can confirm that all four people have been arrested on suspicion of murder, we are still working hard to obtain further evidence and we are keeping an open mind as to the circumstances of the death at this very early stage, which we are treating as an isolated incident.

"All four people were arrested at the scene of the incident and have been released on bail."

Tuesday, September 8

The family put out a statement asking for privacy and urged people not to speculate about the circumstances surrounding her death as tributes were being left at the scene.

In a statement issued directly to Chase TV, the family thanked the community for its concern and well wishes following the tragedy.

They said the baby had been with her family, who had joined her grandfather for a night of fishing at a pond.

The family said: “We as a family appreciate the community concerns and well wishes for this tragic event that happened where the children and parents joined grandad for a night fishing at the pond.

“As everyone can understand it is a traumatic time for everyone involved and we would ask for some privacy at this difficult time without speculation while Staffordshire Police do their job, as we as a family don’t even know the details or circumstances ourselves.”

Staffordshire Police also hit out at "completely false" claims circulating online about the four people arrested.

Officers warned that disinformation suggesting the four people arrested in connection with the death are migrants could damage the ongoing investigation and cause further distress to the baby's family.

In a statement, police said: "We're aware of disinformation circulating online suggesting that the four people arrested in connection with the tragic death of a baby in Great Wyrley are migrants.

"This is completely false.

"This type of information can be incredibly damaging to an ongoing investigation and can directly impact on our ability to gather evidence and secure outcomes."

"We completely understand and accept that people are concerned about this incident and are naturally going to search for further information.

"We cannot, however, accept false claims that are purposely shared online with the intention of misleading the public."