Mother Jailed for Life After Drowning Her Two Sons

Kara Alexander, a 47-year-old mother from Dagenham, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of her two sons, Elijah Thomas, two, and Marley Thomas, five, who she drowned in the bath on December 15, 2022. The incident occurred at their home on Cornwallis Road while Alexander was in a drug-induced psychotic state due to heavy cannabis use.

The children were discovered the following morning in bed, tucked under duvets, after Alexander attempted to conceal her actions. The father of the boys found them and described the scene as “the stuff of nightmares.”

At Kingston Crown Court on April 11, 2023, Justice Mr. Bennathan sentenced Alexander to a minimum term of 21 years and 252 days. The judge remarked on her drug use prior to the incident, stating, “On the evening of the 15th of December 2022, you’d been smoking skunk,” and noted that she had likely done so for weeks. He pointed out that when the boys were drowned, they were already in their pajamas, with Elijah also wearing a nappy.

Mr. Bennathan emphasized that the acts were deliberate, as Alexander held her sons under water for "up to a minute or two." However, he noted there was no evidence suggesting premeditation. After the incident, Alexander had dressed the boys and placed them in bed as if to cover up the tragic event.

Prior to the incident, the judge acknowledged that Alexander was considered a “caring and affectionate” mother, having never raised her voice at her children or shown violence towards them. However, he recognized she had a previous psychotic episode related to cannabis in 2016.

The judge criticized Alexander's social circle for failing to warn her about the dangers of her drug use, despite being aware of her responsibility to care for young children.

Highlighting the vulnerabilities of the boys, the judge noted the significant betrayal of trust involved in the case. He conveyed that Alexander would carry the weight of her actions for the rest of her life, saying, “I have no doubt that every day when you awake you will remember and grieve for the little boys whose lives you snatched away.”

In his closing remarks, Mr. Bennathan issued a strong warning about the dangers of drug use, particularly the use of strong strains of cannabis, stressing that such substances can lead to severe mental health crises.

“If any drug user does not know that, it’s about time they did," he added, indicating the profound consequences that resulted from this case, even if it serves as a cautionary tale for others.