A five-year-old autistic boy in the UK was allegedly strangled to death by his mother, Claire Button, who then attempted to take her own life. When police arrived, they discovered a heartbreaking note beside the boy’s body that read, “He was not made for this world.”
The case was brought before the Basildon Crown Court on October 6, where Button pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility.
According to People, the incident occurred on December 15, 2024, when Button’s husband, Nicky, returned home from work to find their son dead and his wife barely conscious. Prosecutors said Button had strangled the boy before leaving two handwritten notes — one stating “DNR — Do Not Resuscitate,” and another that read, “He wasn’t made for this world. He wasn’t, and neither am I.”
Prosecutors described her actions as “deliberate and unlawful,” carried out while she was suffering from severe depression linked to the challenges of caring for her autistic son. Her mother had previously taken her for psychiatric treatment in the summer of 2024, where she was diagnosed with clinical depression and prescribed medication. Although her condition initially improved, it reportedly worsened again by October.
On the morning of the tragedy, Button had taken her son to visit her mother before calling emergency services at around 11:25 a.m., saying she planned to overdose. She was told an ambulance could take up to 10 hours to arrive. When Nicky returned home around 3 p.m., he found the devastating scene.
Relatives were left heartbroken. Nicky’s cousin, Jamie Warren, told the media that the boy was a cheerful child who loved toys, trains, and rainbows. “Seeing Nicky’s whole family torn apart is unbearable,” he said. “No one should ever have to go through something like this.”
