A two-year-old girl was killed by her mother's boyfriend, and despite multiple reported concerns about her welfare, agencies failed to protect her. The review found that information was not shared effectively and that Isabella's voice was not heard in the crucial final weeks of her life.
A tragic two-year-old girl, beaten to death by her mother's new boyfriend, was discovered dead in a locked bathroom after days of being wheeled around in a buggy. Isabella Jonas-Wheildon's lifeless body was moved and concealed by her mother, Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell, and her boyfriend, Scott Jeff, before finally being found in June 2023.
The young girl suffered horrific abuse, including head and body injuries, fractures to her wrists, a complex pelvic break, and traces of crack cocaine in her blood. Despite her injuries, which included black eyes and the need for sunglasses to hide them, Isabella remained 'invisible' to authorities. Several agencies across four counties - Central Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk - had contact with Isabella, her mother, and partner, but missed crucial opportunities to protect her. Witnesses reported seeing bruises on Isabella and her mother's concerning behavior, yet no adequate action was taken. The damning safeguarding practice review concluded that agencies operated in 'silos' and failed to prioritize the child's well-being. Information was gathered but not shared, and no multi-agency discussions took place during the final month of Isabella's life. A friend of Gleason-Mitchell's tipped off the police, leading to the discovery of Isabella's body. Jeff was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 26 years for murder, while Gleason-Mitchell is serving a 10-year sentence for causing or allowing the death of a child
Child Abuse Domestic Violence Neglect Safeguarding Murder Police Investigation
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Two-Year-Old Girl Beaten to Death by Mother's Boyfriend, Found 'Invisible' to AuthoritiesIsabella Jonas-Wheildon, a two-year-old girl, was tragically beaten to death by her mother's boyfriend, Scott Jeff. Her body was moved around for days before being discovered in a locked bathroom. Multiple authorities had contact with Isabella and her family, but missed opportunities to protect her. A review found that Isabella became 'invisible' to authorities in the weeks leading up to her death.
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