A 49-year-old woman committed suicide after injecting insulin into her three children during a custody battle.
A 49-year-old woman, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, died at the John Radcliffe Hospital on 20 November after she injected insulin into her three children. One of the children subsequently died.
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An inquest at Oxford Coroner's Court ruled her death a suicide, caused by a neuroglycopenic brain injury. Det Sgt Michael Neath reported that the woman told her children they were going on a holiday to prevent jet lag when she began injecting them. Evidence from her GP showed she had mixed anxiety and depressive disorder but had never been prescribed insulin. The woman was involved in court proceedings regarding the custody and residence of her children with her ex-husband. A psychotherapist who provided guidance to the woman stated she appeared vulnerable and wanted to win the custody case but never indicated she would harm anyone. A neighbor reported hearing children banging on the door and found the woman and one child still breathing but in poor condition. Det Sgt Michael Neath noted the woman moved her vehicle and drew the curtains to delay the discovery of the scene. The woman had purchased the insulin from pharmacies in Malaysia starting in August.