Woman charged with murder of Lincoln Button in South Ockendon
The five-year-old child was found by officers following welfare concerns
Last updated 10 hours ago
Essex Police have charged a woman with the murder of five-year-old Lincoln Button in South Ockendon.
Lincoln had been found by officers following reports of serious concerns for his welfare, as well as a woman on December 15th.
When officers arrived at the scene on Windstar Drive in the afternoon, they found Lincoln requiring immediate medical attention.
Paramedics and police officers worked together to try and save the child's life but despite their best efforts, Lincoln was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
The woman was then taken to hospital for treatment, with her condition improving after being looked at by doctors.
Following on from this, the woman has since been discharged from hospital and has been questioned by police.
As a result of their enquiries, the woman - named as Claire Button from Windstar Drive in South Ockendon has been charged with Lincoln's murder.
Claire has been remanded into police custody and will appear before Southend Magistrates' Court on Monday (December 23rd).
Speaking on the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Alan Blakesley from Essex Police said that police are treating the case sensitively.
"This continues to prove to be an immensely complex investigation into the death of a young child," he said.
“My thoughts and the thoughts of all the investigative team remain with the family of Lincoln Button as we continue to support them through this awful time.
“It has taken a huge amount of work and dedication from the investigative team to reach this stage in our investigation and I would continue to call upon the public to refrain from speculating about the circumstances around this case.
“Any case as harrowing as this will understandably attract attention.
“But as we move to the point of charge, the time has come to respect the judicial process and to continue allowing Lincoln’s family privacy and the space to grieve.
In a previous statement, Lincoln's family had described him as "a cherished, loved, sweet, beautiful young soul who was adored by all and will be sorely missed every day".
Lincoln had been a student at Bonnygate Primary School in South Ockendon, where he was in Year 1.
The school also paid tribute to the child, saying: "His love for school, laughter and cuddles will be remembered and missed dearly.
"The school is working closely with the authorities and is being supported by Thurrock Council's education team, who offer support and advice to schools over sensitive issues.
"The school's priority is to support those within the community who need help to come to terms with this tragic loss."