Depressed mom ‘decides to murder autistic son’ after challenges of caring for him

A mom is accused of murdering her autistic son after the “challenges of caring” for him led to her depression, a court heard. Claire Button, 35, is charged with killing 5-year-old Lincoln Brookes at their family home in South Ockendon last December.

Emergency services rushed to Windstar Drive in the south Essex town on Dec. 15 after Button’s husband, Nicky, returned from work and found his son and his wife, who had attempted suicide. Lincoln was declared dead at the scene.

Jurors were informed that the mother, who denies the murder, had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Prosecutor Andrew Jackson alleged that “what happened that day was a deliberate and unlawful act plainly done with the intention of killing Lincoln.”

Jackson accused Button of smothering her only child and placing a sign next to his body that read “DNR — do not resuscitate.” Another note found in the house, allegedly written by Button, stated, “He [Lincoln] does not fit in the world and where he doesn’t fit I don’t either.”

Basildon Crown Court learned that young Lincoln was attending a mainstream school while living with learning difficulties. He was an otherwise physically healthy boy who had been diagnosed with autism and was said to “love going to school.”

“It appears that the challenges of caring for an autistic child had caused the defendant to become depressed, and she chose to murder her child,” Jackson said.

Jurors heard that Lincoln resided at home with his mom and Nicky, his father. The defendant’s mother lived close by and formed “part of a large network of family support” and had even become qualified as a caregiver so that she could assist in caring for Lincoln.