Child’s body found at house as man, 31, and woman, 32, charged with preventing lawful burial

A 31-YEAR-OLD man and a woman, aged 32, have been charged with preventing a lawful burial after a child’s body was found at a house. Cops discovered the body at a property in Southend, Essex, on August 7, following a welfare concern raised by social services. Sophie Dean, 31, of Coates House, Kenway, Southend, and James Thorpe, 32, of Frobisher Way, Shoeburyness, have been charged with preventing a lawful and decent burial of a dead body. The charge relates to a time period between July 3, 2025 and August 6, 2026. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Mr Thorpe has also been charged with obstruction of a constable in the execution of their duty, said Essex Police. Both appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court on August 10 and were remanded in custody. The pair are due to appear next at Basildon Crown Court on September 7, cops added. An Essex Police spokesperson said: “The investigation into the child’s death will continue to be led by detectives from our Crime and Public Protection Command. “We would also encourage anyone with information that could assist us and who has not yet spoken to us to please come forward and do so, quoting investigation number 42/125225/26.” No further details about the child or the circumstances of their death have been released. Most read in The Sun