A grieving mother has recounted the tragic tale of how her 12-week-old infant was fatally harmed by his father before the father took his own life, leaving her devoid of any chance for justice. The infant, Hudson Bibby, was discovered unresponsive at the residence of his father, Carl Bibby, merely 14 hours after being left there by his mother, Rachel Surtees.
Rachel, a 33-year-old nurse from Newcastle, entrusted her newborn child to his father for the second occasion within two weeks. However, just as she was preparing to retrieve Hudson, law enforcement officers arrived at her doorstep with the devastating news.
An inconsolable Rachel had to endure the heartbreaking journey to the mortuary to identify her beloved son. A subsequent inquiry determined that Hudson perished from severe head injuries and was unlawfully killed by his father, Carl Bibby.
Rachel disclosed that authorities informed her that if Carl had not taken his own life, he would have faced charges for Hudson’s murder. Stripped of the opportunity for justice, she admitted that the sorrow has profoundly altered her.
Subsequently, Rachel gave birth to a daughter, Georgie, now aged one. Nevertheless, she acknowledged that witnessing Georgie’s growth is a poignant reminder of the milestones Hudson never had the chance to reach.
Rachel expressed, “I have not found closure. I am no longer the person I was before his passing.”
She revealed that she will never comprehend the circumstances surrounding Carl’s actions, but she emphasized that she will not shield a man who perpetrated such a heinous act against her child.
Rachel and Carl, a scaffolder, initially connected on a dating platform in April 2022 and quickly bonded. However, their relationship ended four weeks after Rachel learned she was pregnant, and communication between them became sporadic.
After giving birth prematurely on February 4, 2023, Rachel registered the birth with Carl but entrusted Hudson to him alone for a few hours during his first solitary care period. Tragically, disaster struck during Hudson’s fifth overnight stay with his father on April 28.
Subsequent forensic reports revealed that Hudson had suffered severe injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome, leading to his immediate death. In November 2024, the Senior Coroner for Newcastle and North Tyneside confirmed that Hudson’s demise resulted from blunt head trauma and was an unlawful killing by Carl Bibby.
Rachel recounted the harrowing experience of identifying her deceased child and the ongoing struggles with anxiety and PTSD. Despite the immense grief, she emphasized the importance of seeking support and sharing experiences to cope with such profound loss.
She acknowledged that the pain of losing Hudson will persist indefinitely and that she must learn to navigate life with the burden of grief.