In a pair of heart-wrenching cases that have gripped communities across England, two mothers have been found guilty of killing their young children in separate incidents marked by mental health struggles and domestic turmoil. The verdicts, delivered just days apart in October 2025, have ignited renewed conversations about the intersection of parental mental health, the challenges of caring for children with complex needs, and the responsibilities of social and health services.
On October 16, 2025, Claire Button, 35, of South Ockendon, Essex, was found guilty of murdering her five-year-old son, Lincoln Button, at their family home. The jury at Basildon Crown Court reached its unanimous verdict after more than eight hours of deliberation, following a harrowing trial that laid bare the depths of Button’s mental anguish and the difficulties she faced in caring for her autistic, non-verbal son who also had developmental delay and ADHD.
According to BBC News, Lincoln’s body was discovered by his father, Nicky Button, when he returned from work on December 15, 2024. The emergency services were called to Windstar Drive, but the young boy was pronounced dead at the scene. Prosecutors told the court that Claire Button had smothered Lincoln before attempting to take her own life. She left a note that read, “He does not fit in the world and where he doesn’t fit I don’t either.”
Throughout the trial, Button described to jurors the overwhelming pressure she felt. She recounted hearing a "dark, deep, scary, demanding" voice in her head, telling her that she and Lincoln “did not belong in this world.” She explained that her suicidal thoughts intensified after Lincoln suffered a meltdown following a trip to the local Lidl supermarket that morning. When she called emergency services, she was told there would be a ten-hour wait for help. “I just thought the ambulance service didn’t want to help if they were going to take that long and the voice told me I had to go through with it,” she testified, as reported by BBC News.
Lincoln, a Year 1 pupil at Bonnygate Primary School, was described by his family and teachers as a “cheeky, smiley, happy boy who loved school, laughter, and cuddles.” His father, Nicky, stood by Claire Button during the trial, telling police that she had been “fighting demons” and was “the sweetest person you’ll ever meet.” He revealed that his wife had been diagnosed with depression in August 2024 and had not fully disclosed the extent of her mental struggles in the weeks leading up to the tragedy. “She was getting dragged outside 15 times a day by Lincoln,” he said, emphasizing the relentless demands of caring for their son.
Family members painted a picture of a devoted mother pushed to her limits. Lincoln’s grandmother said Button “must have been going through hell” before the murder. A family tribute described Lincoln as a “cherished, loved, sweet, beautiful young soul who was adored by all and will be sorely missed every day.” The school echoed these sentiments, stating, “His love for school, laughter and cuddles will be remembered and missed dearly.”
During the proceedings, Button pleaded guilty to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility, but the jury rejected this, agreeing with prosecutors that her mental illness did not meet the threshold for such a verdict. Judge Samantha Leigh, who presided over the case, described it as “one of the most difficult [cases] I’ve done in 30 years.” Sentencing was scheduled for Friday, October 17, 2025.
While the Button case unfolded in Essex, another tragedy was being investigated in east London. On July 8, 2025, emergency services were called to a Homerton High Street address after Nazli Merthoca reported that her three-month-old daughter, Kaylani, had stopped breathing. According to the Evening Standard, paramedics arrived to find Kaylani unresponsive. Merthoca failed to disclose that she had violently shaken her daughter—an act that, as the court later heard, led to catastrophic injuries including bleeding on the brain, eye damage, and fractures to her tibia and ribs.
Kaylani was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital the following day, but her condition deteriorated. After nearly two weeks on life support, she was pronounced dead on July 23, 2025. A specialist post-mortem confirmed that Kaylani died due to blunt force trauma consistent with severe shaking, contradicting Merthoca’s initial claims that her daughter had simply fallen ill while in her care.
Police arrested Merthoca on suspicion of attempted murder on July 9. During interviews, she denied any assault, maintaining that Kaylani had become unwell and lost consciousness. However, forensic evidence and a digital search of Merthoca’s devices revealed a troubling pattern of toxic and abusive behavior, which was presented as evidence in court. The forensic pathologist’s findings were unequivocal: Kaylani’s injuries could only have resulted from violent shaking.
Merthoca, who became visibly agitated during her arrest and threatened to leave the country if granted bail, was remanded in custody. She was ultimately found guilty of killing her daughter and is scheduled to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Monday, December 15, 2025.
Both cases have sent shockwaves through their respective communities, raising urgent questions about how society supports vulnerable families and children. The Button case, in particular, has highlighted the immense pressures faced by parents caring for children with complex needs and the potentially tragic consequences when mental health support falls short. The fact that Claire Button reached out for help on the day of the tragedy, only to be told there was a ten-hour wait for emergency services, has prompted calls for systemic review and reform.
Advocates for mental health and disability rights have pointed out that families like the Buttons often struggle in isolation, navigating labyrinthine support systems that are stretched thin. The stories of Lincoln and Kaylani serve as stark reminders of the importance of early intervention, robust mental health care, and comprehensive support for at-risk families. As both mothers await sentencing, their cases will likely continue to fuel debate about how best to prevent such tragedies in the future and what lessons can be drawn to protect other vulnerable children.
As the courts prepare to deliver sentences in these deeply troubling cases, the families, friends, and communities affected are left to mourn the loss of two young lives and to grapple with the complex, painful realities that led to their deaths.
