Utterly heinous: Gay couple assaulted adopted baby boy before violently taking his life

Teacher Found Guilty of Murdering Adopted Child

A teacher was convicted for the sexual assault and murder of her adopted son, after she initially claimed that the child drowned accidentally in their bathtub.

Jamie Burley, 37, and her partner John McGowan Fazakerley, 32, adopted Preston Davey, taking time off work for the process. According to local authorities, the couple began to abuse the child soon after he was placed in their care.

In July 2023, tragedy struck when Preston was discovered dead at just 13 months old. He had been in emergency foster care at birth before being taken in by Burley and Fazakerley at nine months old.

Prosecutors detailed a history of both sexual and physical abuse, leading to Preston’s untimely death a few months later. Following an autopsy, authorities expressed skepticism about Burley’s drowning account after discovering multiple injuries on the child’s body. They noted that despite the incident, his hair was dry, he was still in his diaper, and there was no evidence of water ingestion.

Investigators identified the cause of death as acute upper airway obstruction, likely resulting from an object being forced into his mouth, alongside cardiac arrest.

Medical personnel had raised concerns prior to Preston’s death, having discovered suspicious injuries during visits to the hospital. Each time, the couple provided explanations for the injuries. On one occasion, a social worker observed the child as well.

Disturbingly, police found explicit images and videos of the victim on Burley’s phone, including a video shared with her partner through a messaging app.

Both Burley and Fazakerley were found guilty on multiple charges, including murder and child assault. They are scheduled for sentencing soon.

Footage captured by police body cameras showed Burley pretending to be distraught after calling authorities about the boy’s death, with Preston wearing a Jurassic Park shirt during that moment.

Chief Inspector Andy Fallows condemned the couple, labeling their actions as “pure evil.” He reflected on the joy Preston had experienced before falling victim to their abuse, stating, “For the first nine months of his life, Preston was a happy, healthy child, but by the end he was a broken shell.” Fallows emphasized that this tragic outcome resulted from the heinous behavior exhibited by Burley and Fazakerley.