Lucy Letby sent colleagues chilling texts to gain sympathy as she killed babies
Killer nurse Lucy Letby would text colleagues pretending to be heartbroken after she murdered babies.
On Friday she was found guilty of killing seven babies and trying to take the lives of six more while working as a nurse on a neonatal unit between June 2015 and June 2016.
The court heard how after Letby killed babies she would send texts to her colleagues trying to elicit their sympathy.
The disturbing text messages show how she sought to cover her tracks and feign innocence even as she preyed on babies by injecting air into their bloodstreams or feeding tubes and poisoning them with insulin, causing them to collapse and die.
In the messages she offers to work extra shifts at the neonatal intensive therapy unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Letby, who was in her mid-20s at the time of the murders, is now the UK’s most prolific child killer of modern times. The messages, which would go on to become a key piece of evidence against her in court, show her bragging about how any inquiry would have "minimal” evidence against her.
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Lucy Letby being arrested at home in Chester on July 3, 2018 (Cheshire Constabulary/AFP via Ge)Letby killed her first victim, Baby A, on June 8 2015 after returning from a trip away. She took over care from fellow nurse Melanie Taylor, and within 90 minutes of her arriving on the ward Baby A was pronounced dead while Baby A’s twin remained on the ward. The next day Letby messaged colleagues to say that she does not want to return to the nursery and see the parents - who also had a twin on the unit, Baby B - who she attacked sometime before June 11.
Ms Taylor sent a WhatsApp message to Letby: “I hope you are OK, you were brilliant.” Texting colleagues, Letby wrote: “It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do... Just a big shock for us all. Hard coming in tonight & seeing the parents x x.” She continued in a message to one of the nurses the day after the killing, adding: “I just don't know how I'm going to feel seeing parents. Dad was on floor crying Saying [sic] please don't take our baby away when I took him to the mortuary, it's just heartbreaking.”
That evening Letby arrived for a night shift. On June 10 she attacked Baby B, even though she was not her designated nurse. The baby deteriorated rapidly but was saved after an intervention and is now eight years old. On June 11 she messaged one of her managers asking to be put back into caring work and asking for more shifts, saying: “From a confidence point of view I need to take an ITU baby soon X.”
She asked her manager for more shifts (Chester Standard / SWNS.com)On June 13 she became frustrated after demanding her manager allow her to work back in intensive care. Letby wrote: “I just keep thinking about Mon [death of Baby A]. Feel like I need to be in [nursery] one to overcome it... to get the image out of my head. It probably sounds odd but that's how I feel.” Her colleague replied: “Well it's up to you but don't think it's going to help. It sounds very odd and I would be complete opposite. Can understand [shift leader] she's trying to look after you all.”
Letby: “Well that's how I feel, from when I've experienced it at the Women's I needed to go straight back and have a sick baby otherwise the image of the one you lost never goes. Don't expect people to understand but I know how I feel... Anyway forget it. I can only talk about it properly with those who knew him... I'll overcome it myself. You get some sleep x”.
Colleague: “That's a bit mean isn't it. Don't have to know him to understand we've all been there. Yep off to bed now x.” Letby: “I don't mean it like that, just that only those who saw him know what image I have in my head X. Forget it. I'm obviously making more of it than I should. Sleep well xx”. The conversation ended at 11.09pm and just six minutes later Baby C fell critically ill.
A note found in the house of Lucy Letby saying "I am evil I did this" (PA)On June 14 Baby C died after Letby fed air into his stomach. She texted her colleague saying: “Sorry if I was off just wasn't a great start to the shift but sadly it got worse. I was struggling to accept what happened to Baby A. Now we've lost Baby C overnight and it's all a bit much.X” Her colleague replied : “Hoping [you're] going to be ok. This isn't like you. Sending you biggest hugs. Xx" Letby: “I Just keep seeing them both [Baby A and Baby C]. No one should have to see and do the things we do. It's heart-breaking. But it's not about me. We learn to deal with it. [...] It's not about me or anyone else, it's these poor parents who have to walk away without their baby. There are no words, it's been awful.”
On June 21 Baby D died, Letby contacted her colleagues the following morning on June 22 saying: “We lost Baby D.” Colleague: “What!!!! But she was improving. What happened. Wanna chat? I can't believe you were on again. You having such a tough time.” Later, Letby wrote: “On a day to day basis it's an incredible job with so many positives. But then sometimes I think, how do such sick babies get through and others just die so suddenly and unexpectedly? Guess it's how it's meant to be. I think there is an element of fate involved. There is a reason for everything.”On the same day, Letby told a second colleague: “I can't talk about it now, I can't stop crying. I just need to get it out of my system.”
On June 30 one of Letby’s colleagues raised concerns about the babies’ deaths, saying: “There's something odd about that night and the other 3 that went so suddenly.” Letby responded: “What do you mean?” Nurse: “Odd that we lost 3 and in different circumstances… ignore me, I'm speculating”. Letby: “Well Baby C was tiny, obviously compromised in utero. Baby D septic. It's Baby A I can't get my head around.”
Letby texted colleagues after babies died
One of Letby's colleagues told her there was "something odd" about the deaths (MEN MEDIA)In the early hours of August 4 Baby E died leaving his twin brother, Baby F still on the ward. A colleague tests Letby to ask if she has been caring for them. Letby replied: “News travels fast. Who told you? Yeah I had them both. Was horrible.” The nurse later replied to Letby saying: “I just really feel for his parents but for you too. You've had some really tough times recently.” A second colleague, texted Letby later telling the killer she has had some “very bad luck”. Letby responded : “Not a lot I can do really. He had massive haemorrhage could have happened to any baby x.”
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On August 5 Baby F fell seriously ill, just hours after his brother died. Letby texted a colleague: “Wonder if Baby F has an endocrine problem then. Hope they can get to the bottom of it. On way home from salsa. Feel better now I've been out.” On August 9 she sent a message to a colleague saying: “I said goodbye to Baby F's parents as Baby F might go tomorrow. They both cried and hugged me saying they will never be able to thank me for the love and care I gave to Baby F and for the precious memories I've given them. It's heartbreaking.” Colleague: “It is heartbreaking but you've done your job to the highest standard with compassion and professionalism.[...]” Letby: “I just feel sad that they are thanking me when they have lost him and for something that any of us would have done. But it's really nice to know that I got it right for them. That's all I want.”
On September 21 she attempted to kill Baby G. On September 26 she appeared to make reference to criticisms or suspicion amongst her colleagues in a message to her manager, whom she thanks for being supportive. She writes: “That's really nice to hear as I gather you are aware of some of the not so positive comments that have been made recently regarding my role which I have found quite upsetting. Our job is a pleasure to do and just hope I do the best for the babies and their Family [sic].”
On September 27 Letby messaged a colleague to say “It's all just so rubbish lately isn't it. And always seems to happen at night when less people.” On October 13 Baby I rapidly deteriorated overnight and was resuscitated, the next day Letby texts her shift leader asking that the baby is not transferred to another nurse, saying: “I'd like to keep her please”. The baby was reallocated but died a week later when Letby was working a night shift at the unit again.
Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook (PA)Over the next few months more babies fell ill while Letby was supposed to be caring for them. In messages to various colleagues she complained about understaffing and offers to take on more shifts. During this period she attempted to kill both Baby L and M who are twins. On June 23 2016 Letby murdered Baby O and on June 24 she murdered Baby P. In response to questions being asked by a doctor at the hospital about why another child has collapsed she messages another doctor, her friend, who it was rumoured she was having an affair with.
Letby: “Do I need to be worried about what Dr Gibbs was asking?” Doctor: “No. He was asking to make sure that normal procedures were being carried out.” Letby: “We've lost two babies I Was caring for and now this happened today, makes you think 'am I missing something/good enough'. Doctor: “If anybody says anything to you about not being good enough or performing adequately I want you to promise me that you'll give my details to provide a statement.” Letby: “Well I sincerely hope I won't ever be needing a statement. But thank you, I promise.” Doctor: “You are one of a few nurses across the region (I've worked pretty much everywhere) that I would trust with my own children.”She also told a colleague: “I keep thinking of them both in the cot together - so peaceful yet beyond words for how awful it is. So sad. The family all thanked me when I took Baby P in dressed.”
On July 16, after hearing that the deaths of Baby O and Baby P will go to an inquest and all staff being informed they will undergo clinical supervision and an external review of deaths at the unit will take place Letby texts a colleague: “I've done a timeline of the year. Hoping to get as much info together as possible - if they have nothing or minimal on me they'll look silly, not Me.”
After deliberating for more than 110 hours, the Letby jury found her guilty of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six more. They were unable to reach a verdict on counts relating to four babies: babies H, J, K and Q. Over twelve months she murdered five boys and two girls, often striking at night where there were less staff around and parents had gone to get food or sleep. She feigned upset to parents and colleagues and altered medical charts to cover up her crimes.
Following her conviction the government has ordered an independent inquiry into the circumstances behind the murders and attempted murders of babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital.The Department of Health said the inquiry will investigate the wider circumstances around what happened at the hospital, including the handling of concerns and governance, and will also look at what actions were taken by regulators and the wider NHS.
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