Tragedy of Tipton mother and son found dead

Dec 11 2007 By Steve Johnson and Will Oliphant, Birmingham Mail

A BLACK Country mother is believed to have taken her own life after killing her five-year-old son.

Police and ambulance crews were called to a maisonette in Henley Close, Tipton, where they found the body of a 27-year-old woman.

Almost four hours later they were called to a house in Walker Street, Tipton, where they discovered the body of the boy.

Detectives said today they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths. It is not yet known how the mother - named locally as Emma Hart - and son, believed to be called Lewis, died. But police ruled out reports that the boy had been stabbed.

Post mortem examinations were carried out on the bodies but causes of death were not established and toxicology tests are being carried out.

Police said that the mother and her son, who have not yet been named, lived together at a house in Walker Street.

Another family member is believed to live at Henley Close, where the woman's body was found.

West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Murray MacGregor today confirmed that both the boy and his mother were confirmed dead at the two addresses.

He said crews went to Henley Close at about 7pm yesterday and were sent to Walker Street at 10.55pm the same day.

A police spokesman said: "We were called to the two addresses in Tipton on Dunday evening.

"A boy aged five was found dead, along with a 27-year-old woman.

"No other people are being sought in connection with the deaths and police inquiries are on-going," the spokesman added.

Catherine Ashfield, 23, from St Marks Road - which is near to Walker Street - said: "It's quite scary really.

"Obviously, I have got a 10-month old son and it is a bit of a shock to hear that a mother could have done something like this in our area.

"It's nothing you would expect. It's not perfect here but I have never heard of anything like this happening before."