Child nurse Lucy Letby charged in the death of eight babies

A British pediatric nurse has been charged with the murder of eight babies and the attempted murder of 10 more after a lengthy investigation that saw her arrested and released multiple times.

Lucy Letby has now been indicted by Cheshire Police and will appear in court, the BBC reported.

The suspicions first emerged in 2017, when there was a disturbing increase in deaths in the neonatal unit at Countess of Chester Hospital, where Letby was a celebrated staff member.

Speaking before the charges were filed, Cheshire Police Chief Detective Inspector Paul Hughes said: “In July 2018, a healthcare professional was arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the deaths of eight babies and the attempted murder of six babies in the neonatal unit at Countess Chester Hospital. She was later released on bail pending further investigations. “

“In June 2019, the health professional was arrested again on suspicion of murder in connection with the death of eight babies and the attempted murder of six babies. She was also arrested in connection with the attempted murder of three more babies.

“Today, as part of our ongoing investigations, the healthcare professional has been re-arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the death of eight babies and the attempted murder of nine babies.

“The woman is currently in custody helping officers with their investigations.”

Police first became involved in 2017, launching an investigation into the deaths of 15 babies between June 2015 and June 2016, the Daily Telegraph reported.

DCI Hughes added, “Parents of all babies have been kept fully up-to-date on this latest development and continue to be supported throughout the process by specially trained officers.

“This is an extremely difficult time for all families and it is important to remember that at the center of this are several grieving families seeking answers about what happened to their children.”

A conviction for eight murders would make Letby Britain’s worst child killer, but neighbors who spoke to the media when Letby was first arrested said they couldn’t believe someone so ‘dedicated to their work’ could be charged. of something like what had been suggested.

One told the Chester Chronicle that they had known her since she was just 3 years old and that “she was lovely, she always has been.”

Others said Letby kept to herself and didn’t know many people in the area.

After that initial 2018 arrest, several mothers wrote online about their horror of Letby taking care of their children.

One said that her daughter was cared for by her “every day for seven weeks.”

Another instantly recognized her as a nurse who was involved in caring for two of her grandchildren.

In an interview with a local newspaper, Letby shared why she loved nursing.

“I graduated as a child nurse from the University of Chester in 2011 and have been working in the unit since I graduated,” she said.

“I also worked in the unit as a nursing student during my three years of training. My role is to care for a wide range of babies who require various levels of support.

“Some are here for a few days, others for many months and I enjoy seeing them progress and supporting their families.”

– Additional reports, news.com.au