Three people have appeared in court following the unlinked deaths of three children in just four days.
Communities on Teesside have been rocked this week by the deaths of a two-year-old girl in Thornaby, a baby in Thornaby and eight-year-old child in Billingham.
Three people have since been charged with murder following the incidents, all appearing at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, September 17.
Heart breaking tributes and scores of flowers have since been left at the separate scenes as residents come to terms with the devastating losses.
The first incident took place on Hartington Close in Thornaby on Saturday, September 13, after concerns were raised about a two-year-old girl’s welfare around 4.20pm.
Crime scene investigators were pictured at the scene and police later confirmed that the child was taken to hospital but later sadly died.
Floral tributes were left outside the home paying tribute to the “little angel”, including one which read: "My beautiful baby girl. Daddy loves you all the world."
Cleveland Police later confirmed that Alexandra Walker, of Hartington Close, Thornaby, and Harrison Simpson, of Greenham Close, Middlesbrough, had been charged and the pair appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Simpson, 21, who was charged with rape, murder and causing/allowing the death of a child, was not asked to enter a plea to any of the charges.
Walker, 25, who was charged with murder and causing/allowing the death of a child, appeared in court wearing police-issue clothing and spoke only to confirm her name and date of birth.
They were both remanded in custody until they appear at Teesside Crown Court on Friday, September 19.
The second incident happened at a home on Marsh House Avenue, in Billingham, just after 10am on Monday, September 15.
Ambulance crews alerted the police after attending the home, where an eight-year-old child had sadly died. He was later named as Rhys Anthony Cameron.
Neighbours and friends were later seen arriving to lay flowers outside the house, which was protected by a police cordon.
A neighbour near the home said: "It is just devastating that that sweet little boy has lost his life.
"The emergency services started arriving at 10am on Monday and they were clearly investigating something serious by the number of police officers who arrived.”
Louise Cameron, of Marsh House Avenue, was then later charged with murder.
The 40-year-old was not asked to enter a plea when she appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.
Cameron, who appeared in court wearing police-issued clothing, was remanded in custody until her next appearance at Teesside Crown Court on Friday, September 19.
The third incident took place on Tuesday, September 16, when ambulance crews called officers over concerns for the welfare of a baby on Thornaby Road in the early hours of the morning.
Pictures taken from the scene on Wednesday morning showed a large police van parked outside the front of the home.
The baby was taken to hospital but sadly passed away; the death is currently being treated as unexplained and enquiries are currently ongoing.
A 32-year-old woman has since been arrested on suspicion of child neglect and she was bailed with conditions pending further enquiries.
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