OLGA FREEMAN ACTON LONDON MOTHER WHO KILLED DISABLED SON IN LOCKDOWN

In a deeply tragic case that has shocked the community of Acton, west London, Olga Freeman, aged 40, has been found responsible for the death of her 10-year-old son, Dylan Freeman. The incident occurred during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a period marked by unprecedented stress and isolation for many families, but for Freeman, it culminated in a heartbreaking act of violence at her home in Cumberland Park.

On August 15 of the previous year, Freeman placed a sponge into Dylan’s mouth and then laid him down amidst his toys, in what the court described as a moment driven by her mental health crisis. The young boy, who was diagnosed with autism, global neurodevelopmental delay, progressive myopia, and significant communication and self-help difficulties, required constant care. His routine had been severely disrupted due to the pandemic, as his specialized school had closed, and respite services had been canceled, leaving his mother overwhelmed.

According to court proceedings, Freeman had become increasingly isolated and exhausted by the demands of caring for her son. The Old Bailey heard that her mental health had deteriorated significantly during this period. She had a history of depression, but the stress of the lockdown, combined with her struggles to secure additional support from local authorities, pushed her to a breaking point. Despite her efforts to seek help, she felt let down by the system, which was slow to respond to her requests for increased financial aid and support for Dylan’s care. Even her plea to the council to reimburse her for toys purchased for Dylan was denied.

Psychiatrists involved in her case confirmed that Freeman was suffering from a depressive illness with psychotic symptoms at the time of the incident. Dr. Martin Lock, a psychiatrist, explained that her psychotic symptoms had developed under extreme stress, exacerbated by the pandemic and the challenges of caring for Dylan. The court was told that her mental health crisis was compounded by the lack of support from authorities, which added to her sense of despair.

At the time of Dylan’s death, his father, Dean Freeman, a well-known celebrity photographer, was in Spain. Dean expressed his grief publicly, describing Dylan as a bright, inquisitive, and artistic child who loved traveling, art, and swimming. He shared his heartbreak over losing his son and reflected on their travels together in countries like Brazil, France, and Spain.

The police investigation revealed that Dylan was found in his mother’s bedroom, covered with a duvet, with parts of a sponge lodged in his throat. Toys were placed nearby, indicating a tragic scene. The postmortem confirmed that the cause of death was airway restriction. After the incident, Olga Freeman voluntarily went to a police station and confessed to killing her son, stating that she had given him “some pills” and “pushed a sponge into his mouth.”

During a virtual hearing at the Old Bailey, Freeman pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, having initially been charged with murder. Prosecutor Gareth Patterson QC explained that the plea was accepted after careful consideration, acknowledging her mental health issues at the time of the killing.

The judge, Mrs. Justice Cheema-Grubb, described the case as “rare and desperately sad,” emphasizing the toll that the pandemic and the associated disruptions had taken on Freeman’s mental health. She noted that Freeman had been a loving and attentive mother until the overwhelming pressures and her mental illness led to this tragic outcome. The judge also recognized that Dylan was an indirect victim of the broader societal disruptions caused by COVID-19.

Kristen Katsouris from the Crown Prosecution Service expressed her condolences, stating, “This was a tragic death of a child at the hands of his mother, who was struggling to cope. Olga Freeman had loved and cared for Dylan for many years, but the severe and complex nature of his needs, combined with her mental health struggles, led to heartbreaking consequences. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this case.”