Mother Found Guilty of Sons' Murder in Dagenham

Kara Alexander, a 47-year-old mother from Dagenham, was found guilty of murdering her two sons, Elijah and Marley Thomas, aged two and five, respectively. In December 2022, Alexander smothered or drowned the boys, leaving their bodies in their bunk bed for their father, Selvin Thomas, to discover. Post-mortem examinations confirmed the cause of death as interference with breathing, possibly from smothering or drowning, with traces of cannabis found in the boys' blood. Alexander, who had separated from Mr. Thomas three months earlier, claimed the deaths were accidental, asserting she fell asleep after placing them in the bath. Despite her claims, the jury at Kingston Crown Court convicted her after deliberating for nearly seven hours. The incident has deeply affected the family, with Mr. Thomas finding the ordeal particularly traumatic.