Key Points:
- Kara Alexander, 47, sentenced to life with a minimum of 24 years for murdering her two young sons.
- Elijah Thomas, 2, and Marley Thomas, 5, were found drowned in their bunkbed at their Dagenham home.
- The children’s bodies were discovered by their father on 16 December 2022.
- Alexander was arrested shortly after fleeing the scene.
- Post-mortem examinations confirmed drowning as the cause of death.
- She was convicted at Kingston Crown Court on 21 February 2025 after a three-week trial.
- Detective Chief Inspector Paul Waller called the case “incredibly tragic” and hoped the sentence brings some justice.
Kara Alexander, a 47-year-old mother from Dagenham, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of her two sons, Elijah and Marley Thomas. The sentencing took place at Kingston Crown Court on Friday, 11 April, where she was ordered to serve a minimum of 24 years.
What happened in Dagenham in December 2022?
Emergency services were called at around 14:00hrs on 16 December 2022 to a home in Cornwallis Road, Dagenham. The father of the two boys made the devastating discovery of their lifeless bodies in a shared bunkbed. Two-year-old Elijah and five-year-old Marley were both pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
Following the incident, Kara Alexander fled the scene but was arrested nearby a short time later. She was taken into custody by officers from the Metropolitan Police.
How did the investigation unfold?
Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command led the investigation into the deaths. A post-mortem examination confirmed both children died from drowning. Investigators examined CCTV footage, doorbell recordings, and conducted forensic analysis of Alexander’s mobile phone.
The evidence gathered led to Alexander being charged with two counts of murder on 19 December 2022.
What was said during the sentencing?
At Kingston Crown Court, Kara Alexander was convicted on 21 February 2025 after a three-week trial. On 11 April, she received a life sentence with a minimum of 24 years before eligibility for parole.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Waller, who led the investigation, commented on the case:
“This is an incredibly tragic case, which has left a father without his two beloved boys and a family without two young brothers.”
He added:
“Kara Alexander will spend the next two decades behind bars, where the memory of what she has done will haunt her forever.”
What does the family hope following the sentencing?
DCI Waller addressed the family directly in his statement:
“To the family and friends of Elijah and Marley, while no amount of time will erase the pain of such a loss, I hope this sentence serves to bring some semblance of justice.”
He concluded:
“I hope you can now move on with your life, remembering the boys as you knew them, and treasuring the happy times you spent with them.”
What was Kara Alexander’s motive?
No clear motive was publicly disclosed during the trial. The case shocked the community and raised questions about Alexander’s mental health, though the court proceedings focused primarily on the events and evidence surrounding the murders.
This tragic case continues to resonate across East London, as the community and the children’s family grapple with the devastating loss.
