Woman charged with murdering eight-year-old boy found at Billingham home

A 40-year-old woman has been charged with the murder of an eight-year-old boy after his body was found at a house in Billingham, police said.

Louise Cameron, 40, is accused of killing Rhys Anthony Cameron between Saturday and Monday, North East law enforcement officials said. Emergency services were alerted to the boy’s death by the North East Ambulance Service and police officers arrived at the property on Marsh House Avenue at about 10 a.m. on the day the body was discovered.

Cameron was formally charged with murder and appeared for a short hearing at Teesside Magistrates' Court in Middlesbrough on Wednesday. She confirmed her name, address and date of birth at the hearing. The chair of the magistrates' bench told Cameron the case could only be dealt with at the crown court and that bail could not be decided in the magistrates' court.

Prosecutor Marcus Blakelock and defence solicitor Tyler Plunkett provided no further details in the brief hearing. Cameron was remanded into custody and is due to appear before a crown court judge at Teesside Crown Court on Friday, Sept. 19.

Police crime-scene officers and forensics teams were photographed at the property on Marsh House Avenue following the discovery. A police van was seen parked outside the house while officers carried out their inquiries.

Local investigators have not released additional information about the circumstances of the boy’s death, the relationship between the accused and the victim, or any potential motive. The charge means the matter will proceed through the crown court system, where evidence and legal arguments will be heard before a trial judge and jury if it goes to trial.

The investigation remains active. Police asked anyone with information relevant to the inquiry to contact the local force through established channels. No further statements detailing the cause of death or the progress of forensic examinations were provided publicly following the magistrates' hearing.