Isabella Wheildon, two,was found dead on June 30 last year, but it's believed she had died days prior with mum Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell and then-partner, Scott Jeff, seen pushing her in her pushchair
A mum who pushed her dead toddler around in a pushchair for several days, taking trips to the shops and to a pub, has been cleared of her murder.
The body of two-year-old Isabella Wheildon was discovered at an address in Ipswich on June 30 last year, though it is believed she died four days earlier. Her mother, Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell, and then-partner Scott Jeff, 24 had continued to wheel her body around in a buggy for days afterwards.
Isabella's body reportedly had multiple fractures to her pelvis, consistent with “high impact” injuries, such as stamping, and she also had two broken wrists when police found her. After a seven-week trial at Ipswich Crown Court, Jeff - who is not the toddler’s father - was found guilty of murder after denying it. Gleason-Mitchell previously pleaded guilty to causing or allowing the death of a child and two counts of child cruelty.
Prosecutor Sally Howes told jurors Isabella was a "healthy, contented, well-cared for little girl until Scott Jeff came into her young life". She said: “Towards the end of May 2023, he entered a relationship with Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell.
"From that time up to her death, Isabella was subjected to a regime of escalating brutality which was callous, cruel and ultimately fatal." She described how Isabella's "own mother Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell stood back, watched, did nothing and allowed this to happen".
Suffolk Police said the day after the youngster is believed to have died, the couple were seen on CCTV on a trip to the shops which "shows them joking, apparently unaffected by what had just taken place". The force said: “Over the course of the next three days they proceeded to carry on as 'normal', pushing Isabella's body around in a buggy. This included getting the bus into town to go shopping and going to the pub."
The force said it is believed the couple, who were not at the flat when police found Isabella, saw officers and left. They were found and arrested in Bury St Edmunds in the early hours of July 1, having earlier spent several hours in a pub until closing time.
Barrister Ms Howes said a post-mortem examination identified "extensive external traumatic injuries to the soft tissues of the body including head, neck, torso, limbs" and other areas. Ms Howes said Isabella sustained fractures to both wrists and a "complex pelvic fracture involving several bones".
She said the toddler's cause of death was given as "bone marrow embolism caused by skeletal trauma" due to bone marrow from her fractures entering her blood stream, causing embolisms in her lungs and reducing her capacity to breathe. Gleason-Mitchell is said to have messaged a friend on the evening of June 29, confirming Isabella's death.
"She stopped breathing in her sleep", the message read. Her friend urged her to go to police but Gleason-Mitchell replied that Isabella was "covered in bruises" so they couldn't. Instead, she said they planned to bury her and "hope for the best that nobody would find her".
Jeff showed no emotion in the dock as he was convicted of the murder and two counts of cruelty to a child. Gleason-Mitchell earlier admitted causing or allowing her death and two charges of cruelty to a child. 2Mr Justice Garnham remanded the pair in custody before they are due to be sentenced on December 13.
Detective Chief Inspector Craig Powell, the Senior Investigating Officer, said: “The murder of any child is in my opinion the worst crime imaginable. When they are killed at the hands of those who were supposed to protect and care for such a young and innocent life, it is somehow even worse.
“Tragically, this is exactly what happened to two-year-old Isabella Jonas-Wheildon. Today has seen the delivery of justice for Isabella and her family, with Scott Jeff having been found guilty of her murder and her own mother, Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell, being convicted of causing or allowing her death.
“This poor family have had to endure not only the loss of their precious Isabella, but have then been subjected to hearing the most harrowing details of the final few weeks of her life. I want to pay my respects and heartfelt thanks to the family of Isabella who have - since the very beginning of this investigation - put their unwavering faith and trust in the Constabulary and my team.
"The family have remained so dignified and brave, even when faced with detailed evidence at the lengthy trial. This trial and the pain and suffering which it caused was only necessary due to Scott unsuccessfully attempting to deny his guilt.
“Isabella has, I know, touched the hearts of so many. I recognise how difficult this case has been for the many witnesses and jury member. I, alongside the family, wish to thank them all for delivering justice for Isabella.”