Girl, 2, dies after being found in pond in Hampshire - woman released from police custody

A woman arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of a two-year-old at a village pond has been released from custody but remains under investigation.

Officers were called at 5.02pm on Sunday (10 September) following reports that a toddler - named locally as Annabel Mackey - had gone missing from her home near Bordon, Hampshire. Following a short search, she was found unresponsive in Kingsley Pond.

Annabel was taken to hospital in a serious condition, but tragically died later on Monday (11 September). Her family are being supported by specialist officers.

A woman in her 40s was arrested by Hampshire Police, and was detained under the Mental Health Act. She is no longer in custody but remains under investigation.

The force is working to establish exactly what happened, and are keen to speak to anyone who was in the area of Kingsley Pond prior to the tragic incident.

Annabel’s parents have been named locally as Peter and Alice Mackey, who live on a secluded road in the village of Kingsley, about half a mile from the pond. Neighbours have paid tribute following Annabel’s tragic death, with one commenting: “We’re really upset.

“Whenever we saw her in the village she didn’t really speak, she gave us little smiles. She was a sweet little girl. She was very, very quiet and shy... timid I would say.”

A man who lives on the same road as the family described Annabel as “a beautiful little girl”, adding that he often saw her walking around the “beautiful” local area with her mother Alice. He added: “We moved here simply because it’s idyllic, we knew it was safe. This has shocked us to the core.”

Meanwhile, another resident claimed they had heard an adult voice at the pond shouting “help me, help me” around the time of the incident.

A spokeswoman for Hampshire Police said in a statement on Tuesday (12 September): “Officers are appealing for information following the death of a child who was found unresponsive at Kingsley Pond.”

She added that officers will be in the area, and members of the public should feel free to approach them if they have any concerns, questions, or information.

Anyone with information is being asked to call 101, quoting number 44230369036. Alternatively, people can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or submit information through an online portal by going to Public Portal (mipp.police.uk) Op Brathay.