Acton mum suffocated disabled son with sponge
An Acton mum who suffocated her 10-year-old disabled son last August has been pictured for the first time.
Olga Freeman, 40, pleaded guilty to the charge at the Old Bailey on January 25 by reason of diminished responsibility.
Freeman was arrested in the early hours of Sunday, August 16, 2020 after she told officers at Acton Police Station she had given her son Dylan some pills and pushed a sponge into his mouth.
The night before Dylan was found, Freeman messaged a friend saying: “I am done. Where are u?”
When the friend arrived, they found that Freeman had booked two seats on a flight from London Luton Airport to Tel
Aviv. She would not let the friend into Dylan’s room.
Shortly after, Freeman travelled with the acquaintance to Acton Police Station, where she told the officer on duty she had killed her son.
Officers attended the home to investigate, and found Dylan unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post-mortem examination found Dylan died from upper airway obstruction by a foreign body.
The court heard that Dylan suffered severe mental and physical health issues, which affected his independence and ability to communicate.
Freeman also suffered mental health problems, the court heard, and difficulties in her personal life.
Lead investigator Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harding said: “This has been an incredibly sad incident to investigate.
“Foremost our thoughts are with Dylan and his family, who continue to feel his untimely loss and will do so for a long time to come.
“I would like to thank my team of detectives, who have worked so diligently and professionally during this harrowing case.
“I would also like to acknowledge the selfless actions of my response colleagues who attended the scene on that night and tried in vain to save Dylan’s life.”
A date for sentencing has not yet been set.