Life Behind Bars Ends for Baby Killer Rachel Tunstill
Mother Who Murdered Newborn Dies in Prison
Rachel Tunstill, the mother jailed for life after stabbing her newborn daughter to death, has died behind bars. In 2017, Tunstill killed baby Mia Kelly in their Burnley home by stabbing her with scissors. The brutal attack happened in the bathroom, after which she stuffed the body into plastic bags and dumped it in the kitchen bin along with the murder weapon.
Trial Controversy and Life Sentence
Tunstill was convicted of murder at Preston Crown Court and handed a minimum 20-year term. However, questions arose over whether she should have faced infanticide charges instead, prompting a retrial. The second trial returned another murder verdict, this time with a life sentence and a 17-year minimum.
Shockingly, her boyfriend was in the next room playing computer games while she gave birth. She deceived him by claiming a miscarriage and asked for scissors — before using them to kill Mia moments after birth.
Judge Condemns ‘Frenzied’ Attack
At sentencing, Mr Justice King blasted the “sustained, frenzied” assault on a totally defenceless infant. “Her duty as a mother was care and comfort, not harm,” he said. Tunstill showed no remorse throughout proceedings, despite holding a master’s degree in forensic psychology—a chilling detail considering her coldness.
Death Confirmed at HMP Styal, Investigation Underway
The Prison Service at HMP Styal in Cheshire confirmed Tunstill’s death. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate, as is standard for all deaths in custody. This grim case underlines urgent needs for better mental health support and protection for vulnerable newborns and children.
The tragic story of Rachel Tunstill draws to a close, leaving a haunting legacy of loss and shocking cruelty.
