Baby Found Dead in Tent: Cause of Death Remains Unexplained, Inquest Hears

The cause of death of a three-month-old girl who died during a family camping trip remains unascertained, an inquest heard.

Lacey May Oxford suffered cardiac arrest inside a tent at a makeshift encampment beside a fishing pond near Great Wyrley, Staffordshire, at 8.45am on September 5.

Her death prompted a murder investigation, and four people were later arrested before being released on conditional police bail.

Those arrested 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, in the West Midlands.

As the police investigation continues, an inquest opened in Stoke on Wednesday was told that the cause of Lacey’s death has not yet been established.

West Midlands Ambulance Service contacted Staffordshire Police at 8.45am on September 5. The infant was pronounced dead at the scene at 9.06am.

Coroner Lindsay Tonks said: ‘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 was reported that a three-month-old child was in cardiac arrest at a makeshift encampment in woodland off Strawberry Lane, approximately half a mile from the nearest road. The child was found inside one of several tents near a fishing pond.’

‘Ambulance staff attended and, following their assessment, confirmed that Lacey was deceased. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 9.06am.’

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She added: ‘Police investigations followed and, as I understand it, remain ongoing. In the meantime, a paediatric forensic post-mortem examination has been carried out by Charlotte Randall. It was determined that the precise medical cause of death has yet to be ascertained.’

Lacey’s family previously issued a statement through Chase TV, thanking the community for its concern and support.

They said Lacey had been with relatives who had joined her grandfather for a night of fishing at a pond.

The family said: ‘As a family, we appreciate the community’s concern and well wishes following this tragic event, which happened while the children and parents joined grandad for a night of fishing at the pond.

‘It is a traumatic time for everyone involved. We ask for privacy during this difficult period and urge people not to speculate while Staffordshire Police carry out their work, as we do not yet know the details or circumstances ourselves.’

Detective Inspector Josh Lee, from Staffordshire Police’s child protection team, previously said: ‘I want to assure the local community that we are working around the clock to investigate the circumstances of this tragic incident, which has understandably caused concern.

‘Although we can confirm that all four people were arrested on suspicion of murder, we are continuing to gather evidence and keeping an open mind about the circumstances of the death at this very early stage. We are treating it as an isolated incident.

‘We fully understand that people may speculate about the nature of this incident, but we ask them to follow this page for factual and accurate updates as our investigation develops and to avoid sharing unconfirmed claims online.’

A Staffordshire Police statement 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, September 5.’

‘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.’