Jamie Varley, 37, and John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, were in the process of adopting Preston Davey when the baby was killed, according to the prosecution. The baby was placed with the couple in April 2023 at nine months old. Four months later, the baby was taken by them to an A&E department suffering from cardiac arrest and died despite the efforts of medical staff. A postmortem gave the cause of death as acute upper airways obstruction, a result either of smothering, most likely with a hand or soft fabric, or by the insertion of an object or objects into his mouth.
The prosecution alleges that in the care of the defendants, Preston was routinely ill-treated, sexually abused, and physically assaulted in the final months of his life. According to the prosecution, the evidence gathered during the investigation revealed a sinister pathology, indicating the baby was murdered by one of his proposed adoptive parents. At the time of his death, Preston was found to have sustained about 40 traumatic injuries, including 30 external bruises. Medical experts noted the baby had bruises on his thigh consistent with a slap with an open hand and bruises to the forehead consistent with gripping of his head. The prosecution also claims Varley had taken a number of images and videos of the abuse.
According to the prosecution, the person responsible for killing Preston Davey was the defendant, Jamie Varley. Varley denies the murder charge. The exact circumstances leading to the baby's cardiac arrest and death, as well as how the adoption process proceeded and whether any red flags were missed by authorities, are still under investigation.