Rachel Tunstill, 32, who was convicted of murdering her newborn daughter, Mia Kelly, in 2017, was found dead in HMP Styal, Cheshire. Tunstill had stabbed Mia with scissors and discarded her body in a bin. Initially sentenced to life for murder, her conviction was later reduced to infanticide, but a retrial reinstated the original sentence.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is currently investigating her death. During the trial, it was revealed that Tunstill, a psychology graduate with autism, had believed she was experiencing a miscarriage. Disturbing online searches and references to notorious criminals were also uncovered. The judge described the act as a horrific attack on a defenseless infant. This case highlights the critical need for adequate mental health care and preventative measures to prevent such tragedies.
