Rachel Tunstill, a 32-year-old woman serving a life sentence for killing her newborn daughter, was found dead in her prison cell at HMP Styal. Her death is under investigation.

In 2017, Tunstill, a psychology graduate, gave birth alone and, in a state of psychological distress, fatally stabbed her baby, Mia. Initially convicted of murder, her sentence was briefly reduced to infanticide due to mental health concerns before she was retried and found guilty of murder again.

Throughout the case, Tunstill’s struggles with autism and mental illness were central. She reportedly believed she was miscarrying, not delivering a full-term baby. Her internet search history, which included violent cases, further complicated public perception of her mental state.

Tunstill’s story is deeply tragic—for her daughter, for her, and for a system that may have failed to provide the help she needed. Her death now shines a light on the urgent need for better mental health support, especially within the justice system.

As authorities investigate, her case serves as a painful reminder of what can happen when mental health is overlooked.