image: The Guardian
TRIGGER WARNING: This article touches on the rape, abuse, and murder of both children and adults.
“I love my kids too much to kill them. I can’t put them into care for the same reason.”
-Sarah Barrass
the short story
- name(s): Sarah Barrass, Brandon Machin
- crime: child murder
- date of crime: 24 May 2019
- location of crime: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK
- # victim(s): 2 deaths, 4 injuries
- offender status: life imprisonment/35-year minimum
the crime
On 24 May 2019, police received a number of reports from neighbors, concerned for the safety of the children within the home. Police determined the reports to be credible and launched a full-scale raid, which included fifteen police cars. They found six children, ages seven months to fourteen years old, unconscious. Sarah Barrass and Brandon Machin were arrested on site for the suspicion of murder. The two oldest children passed away soon after the raid.[1]Clifton, Katy, and Megan White. “Sheffield Incident: Two Children Dead after ‘Serious Incident’ in Shiregreen.” Evening Standard, 24 May 2019, Evening Standard, … Continue reading
On 23 May 2019, Barrass and Machin gathered ADHD pills and fed them to the four eldest children. When it became clear that this wouldn’t work, the investigation showed that Barrass searched online for other possible methods, to include drowing, suffocation, and strangulation. During the night, Barrass also posted on social media about her children being sick, posts that have been described as “light-hearted.”
The next morning, Barrass strangled her 13yo son with belt of her robe, while Machin strangled the 14yo with his hands. Then they placed bags over both of their heads to ensure they did indeed die. They also attempted to drown one of the younger children in the bath. [2]Parveen, Nazia. “Incestuous Couple Who Murdered Their Teenage Sons Jailed for Life.” The Guardian, 12 Nov. 2019, The Guardian, … Continue reading Inexplicably, when the younger child didn’t drown, she took the four youngest children into the bedroom and called the police herself.[3]“Sarah Barrass and Brandon Machin Jailed for Murdering Sons.” BBC News, 12 Nov. 2019, BBC News, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-50388496.
the criminals
Until that day, the outside world saw Barrass as a loving and caring mother, Machin as a supportive brother to her and uncle to the children. However, that was far from the whole story. Sarah Barrass and Brandon Machin were not only half siblings, sharing the same mother. They were also a committed couple. All six children were products of this relationship. This was a closely held secret, the motivation behind the crimes they committed. Not even the children knew the truth, having always been told an improbable lie… that their father had died in WWII.[4]Parveen, Nazia. “Incestuous Couple Who Murdered Their Teenage Sons Jailed for Life.” The Guardian, 12 Nov. 2019, The Guardian, … Continue reading
Barrass and Machin began their relationship when they were teenagers. Romantic letters were found that showed the relationship began as early as 14 for Barrass, 18 for Machin.[5]Winter, Alex. “Evil Mum Who Murdered Her Two Boys, 13 and 14, Moaned She Needed a Bigger House to Control Them.” The Sun, 28 Aug. 2020, The Sun, … Continue reading However, those letters, found by their mother, were reviewed by authorities at the time. Barrass denied it then, and no further action was taken. This despite the fact that even without the incest factor, the relationship would have been illegal due to their ages.[6]Preston, Faye. “Lies, Incest and Murder: The Twisted Truth behind Sarah Barrass and Brandon Machin Who Killed Their Kids to Hide Their Secret.” Yorkshire Live, 29 Aug. 2020, Yorkshire … Continue reading
During their trial, the defense argued that Barrass had been raised in a neglectful home in which she’d been emotionally, physically, and sexually abused until finally being taken out of the home.[7]Parveen, Nazia. “Incestuous Couple Who Murdered Their Teenage Sons Jailed for Life.” The Guardian, 12 Nov. 2019, The Guardian, … Continue reading
“I’ve thought of every possible solution to this mess. Mass murder, putting them all in care, checking into the local nuthouse.”
-Sarah Barrass in a text to a friend
the motivation
There are a couple motivating factors behind the crime.
1. the fear of exposure
Only days before the murders, a child protection investigation began after the two oldest boys began manifesting behavior described as “deviant.” The oldest boy had stolen his aunt’s car, and the next oldest boy had been caught with a bladed weapon in his possession. There were also a number of other issues.[8]Winter, Alex. “Evil Mum Who Murdered Her Two Boys, 13 and 14, Moaned She Needed a Bigger House to Control Them.” The Sun, 28 Aug. 2020, The Sun, … Continue reading
This investigation caused Barrass and Machin to become fearful that their illegal relationship would be discovered by the authories, and that they would then lose their children. This led them to plot to murder them instead.[9]“Sarah Barrass and Brandon Machin Jailed for Murdering Sons.” BBC News, 12 Nov. 2019, BBC News, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-50388496.
2. being overwhelmed
During the child protection investigation, the mother complained that she needed a bigger house in order to contend with her children. She maintained that the three-bedroom council home she shared with her children was too small to allow for adequate space in order to keep her children apart when necessary. She had one bedroom, and the six children shared the other two.[10]Winter, Alex. “Evil Mum Who Murdered Her Two Boys, 13 and 14, Moaned She Needed a Bigger House to Control Them.” The Sun, 28 Aug. 2020, The Sun, … Continue reading
In addition, several of the children had special needs. Machin accompanied her to many of the appointments and sessions for these children, but Barrass lived alone with them.[11]Preston, Faye. “Lies, Incest and Murder: The Twisted Truth behind Sarah Barrass and Brandon Machin Who Killed Their Kids to Hide Their Secret.” Yorkshire Live, 29 Aug. 2020, Yorkshire … Continue reading
the punishment
They were both charged and convicted of two counts of murder, conspiracy to murder all six children, and an additional five counts of attempted murder. Both were sentenced to life in prison with minimum terms of 35 years.
the effect of abuse
There is no question that mental instability was a mitigating factor. Simply the decision to murder their children rather than to allow them to go into foster care is proof of that. As is the very relationship between Barrass and Machin.
Both had been victims of neglect and abuse in their home as children. While there has been no allegation that either showed any type of physical or sexual abuse by Barrass and Machin toward their children, there were signs of some emotional abuse. In addition, allegations of sexual assault had already been made against the two oldest boys before their deaths.
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