Four people were arrested after a three-month-old baby girl died while camping with her family in woodland near Cheslyn Hay, in Great Wyrley. Emergency services were called at 08:45 BST on Saturday to reports of a child in cardiac arrest in woodland off Strawberry Lane.
The arrested people were a 42-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman from south Staffordshire, a 20-year-old woman from Wolverhampton, and an 18-year-old man from Walsall. Staffordshire Police said all four were detained at the scene and have since been bailed while inquiries continue.
Det Insp Josh Lee
Det Insp Josh Lee said officers were gathering further evidence around the circumstances of the girl's death and were “keeping an open mind”. Police said the incident was being treated as an isolated incident, and officers urged people not to share “unconfirmed and speculative” claims online.
Strawberry Lane scene
The scene was described as being “hidden away” from the main woodland in the Wyrley and Essington Branch Canal Local Nature Reserve. It was not an official camping site, and a cordon remained around the area close to the fishing lake where two camping tents had been pitched.
Residents in Cheslyn Hay, which has a population of about 7,000 people, were said to have been left shocked by the child's death. Councillor Robert Duncan said the community was devastated, urged residents to “avoid speculation” and to “allow the family and responders the privacy and respect they deserve”.
Samantha Hagerman response
Reverend Samantha Hagerman said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with family, friends and emergency services affected by the incident near Cheslyn Hay yesterday.” Sir Gavin Williamson described it as “extremely distressing news” and called for people not to speculate about what happened.
Police inquiries continue while the four people remain bailed, and the immediate issue for the investigation is whether the evidence from the scene explains how a child in cardiac arrest led to murder arrests at a woodland campsite. Officers are still asking the public to leave the case to them rather than spread claims online.
