An inquest has been opened and adjourned into the death of a three-month-old girl who died at a makeshift camp in Staffordshire last month. Lacey May Oxford went into cardiac arrest at a tent in woodland off Strawberry Lane, Great Wyrley, on September 5, before dying.
Her death sparked a murder investigation. Four people were arrested on suspicion of murder: a 42-year-old man, a 30-year-old woman, a 20-year-old woman and an 18-year-old man.
Inquest hearing details
All four remain on conditional police bail while detectives continue to investigate, an update heard today. At an inquest hearing on October 7 in Stoke, coroner Lindsay Tonks said the precise cause of Lacey's death had not yet been established.
The death is currently recorded as 'unascertained' by the coroner, while Staffordshire Police continue to treat it as 'unexplained', reports The Sentinel.
What the coroner said
Ms Tonks told the court: “Lacey passed away in a tent in fields off Strawberry Lane, Great Wyrley. Identification was confirmed by her parents who were both present at the scene. It appears a phone call was made from West Midlands Ambulance Service to Staffordshire Police at 8.45am on September 5.
“It was reported that a three-month-old child was in cardiac arrest at a makeshift encampment within the woodland off Strawberry Lane, approximately half-a-mile from the nearest roadway. The child was located within one of a number of tents situated near a fishing pond.
“Ambulance staff attended and, following assessment, confirmed Lacey was deceased. They pronounced life extinct on the scene at 9.06am. Investigations ensued by police, which I understand are still ongoing. In the meantime, there has been a paediatric forensic post-mortem carried out by Charlotte Randall. It was determined that the precise medical cause of death is yet to be ascertained.”
Ms Tonks added: “All I can do is offer my condolences to the family.”
Police statement
The area where Lacey died is understood to be within the Wyrley and Essington Branch Canal Local Nature Reserve. Police previously cordoned off a fishing lake while forensic investigations were carried out. Images from the scene showed several tents and camping chairs positioned near the water and fishing platforms. Police said Lacey's family had been camping in the area.
Detective Inspector Katie Gregory said the investigation was still in its early stages and described the incident as isolated. She 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."
A Staffordshire Police spokesperson said: “We were called by colleagues from West Midlands Ambulance Service, who were responding to a report of a child in cardiac arrest, at 8.45am on Saturday 5 September. Sadly, Lacey was later pronounced dead at the scene.
"Officers have been working hard to investigate the circumstances of Lacey’s death, which is still being treated as unexplained. All four people who were previously arrested in connection with the investigation remain on conditional police bail at this time. Our enquiries are continuing and we will continue to provide updates on this investigation when we are able to do so.”
The inquest was adjourned while the police investigation and further work to establish the cause of Lacey's death continue.
