Dawn broke quietly over a quiet Hereford street, but inside a semi-detached home, chaos and heartbreak unfolded.
Susan Letby, 65, could be heard wailing and pleading with officers from Cheshire Constabulary as they arrived to arrest her daughter, Lucy Letby, 36.
“Please, no, not again, no,” she cried, her voice cracking with despair.
The police footage, captured on bodycams, has now been featured in a new Netflix documentary that premiered today.
Lucy, a former children’s nurse, was found asleep in her childhood bedroom, surrounded by fairy lights, snow globe ornaments, and little affirmation trinkets.
She appeared stunned as detectives informed her she was being arrested again on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
The footage shows her asking to say goodbye to one of her cats before turning to her parents and saying, “You know I didn’t do it?”
Her parents reassured her, but the tension and heartbreak were palpable.
Handcuffed, she was led to a waiting police car for a 130-mile journey back to Cheshire for questioning.
Parents Speak Out Against the Documentary
After the documentary’s release, Letby’s parents publicly criticized it as a “complete invasion of privacy.”
They revealed that they would not watch the film, fearing the emotional impact would be unbearable.
Their perspective underscores the human cost of the case, beyond the criminal investigation and courtroom drama.
A Deep Dive Into the Investigation
Titled The Investigation of Lucy Letby, the 90-minute programme traces every arrest Letby faced, including rare bodycam footage showing her breaking down during questioning.
It reveals that she had contacted the senior investigating officer herself in April 2018, three months before her first arrest, seeking clarity on when she could be interviewed.
Using her NHS email, she referenced Operation Hummingbird, the official investigation into the spike in neonatal deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital—a detail not widely known to the public at the time.
Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes noted that her proactive email “was interesting” and suggested she might have something to disclose.
Letby’s message showed meticulous planning, detailing how she would need to manage time off work and communicate with her manager while maintaining discretion.
Hospital Concerns and Redeployment
Letby had been moved from the neo-natal unit to an administrative role in 2016, following concerns raised by doctors.
However, her colleagues were not informed that the move was due to suspicions that she might have harmed babies.
The documentary highlights the gap in communication and the broader implications for hospital safety and oversight.
The Stories of the Victims
The documentary also focuses on the stories of Letby’s victims, including “Zoe,” a full-term baby girl whose case has been anonymized.
Zoe’s mother describes the unimaginable panic and grief she felt after her daughter died unexpectedly.
Following Letby’s conviction in August 2023 for murdering Zoe with an injection of air, the mother expressed relief mixed with heartbreak.
She also condemned political figures and campaigners, including Tory MP David Davis, who attempted to frame Letby’s case as a matter of misinterpreted medical outcomes.
Letby’s Police Interviews and Legal Proceedings
Throughout police interviews, Letby remained composed, answering medical questions competently, yet claimed memory lapses when asked about the babies’ collapses.
She could not explain why she had searched for victims’ parents on social media or why no babies admitted after her redeployment had suffered similar fates.
Currently serving 15 whole life terms for murdering seven babies and attempting to kill seven more, Letby’s case continues to stir public debate.
The documentary also includes interviews with people who believe Letby might be innocent, including a university friend named Maisie.
Emotional scenes show Maisie reading letters from Letby, where she expresses guilt over not caring properly for her cats and determination to “get through this.”
Appeals, Inquests, and Public Interest
Letby has attempted to appeal her convictions twice without success.
Her legal team submitted new evidence to the Criminal Cases Review Commission last year in the hope of a third appeal.
Meanwhile, inquests are ongoing into the deaths of several of her victims, continuing the painstaking search for closure.
The Investigation of Lucy Letby is now available to watch on Netflix, offering a rare, intimate, and often harrowing look at one of the UK’s most infamous criminal cases.
