04-05-2025
Tragic 14-year-old found dead in burning building as police arrest 14 children
A family wants to give a 14 year old boy "the best send off" after his death in what's been described as "one of the most tragic ways", while police continue their search for clues over the heartbreaking incident.
The remains of Layton Carr, 14, who went missing, were found in a torched building close to Fairfield Industrial Park in the Bill Quay area of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. Northumbria Police have taken into custody 14 children aged between 11 and 14 on suspicions of manslaughter following the young boy's death.
Firefighters raced against the clock to deal with the inferno on Friday evening amid concerns for the teen believed to be in the vicinity at that time. The emergency crews got to the fiery scene shortly before 8pm and subdued the flames.
After Layton's disappearance around 7pm the preceding evening, police appealed to the public for his whereabouts in the early hours of Saturday. However, the police later confirmed the grim discovery of his body in the aftermath of the blaze.
Stephanie Simpson, who is a mate of Layton's mum Georgia Dingwall, has launched a GoFundMe campaign, sharing their desire to grant the tragic teen "the best send off", reports the Mirror.
She penned: "As everyone is aware My best friend Georgia Dingwall has lost her 14 year old Son Layton Carr in one of the most tragic ways you could e(v)er imagine. I'm making this go fund me to help her give him the best send off and help take some stress off Georgia right now. The last thing Georgia needs to worry trying to pay for a funeral for her Boy while going through this. Any donations will help thank you."
Locals near the dilapidated and heavily defaced Fairfield Industrial Estate in Bill Quay, Gateshead, which lies near the River Tyne, pointed fingers at inadequate security for the heartbreaking incident. The site, once home to Marconi's Radar Plant, has transformed into a 15-acre industrial estate, with residents claiming much of it is abandoned.
Despite being encircled by a 10-foot-high wall covered in graffiti, parts of the barrier have been compromised in several spots, even though community members have tried to seal the breaches with corrugated iron. However, these makeshift repairs are frequently torn apart by vandals.
Neighbours reported that kids could enter the premises through gaps in the iron sheeting and exit by wriggling under the main gate. Today, the gates were shut and taped off as part of a crime scene investigation, adjacent to the demolished security office, now devoid of all its glass doors and windows.
A local resident remarked: "It has never been right since Marconi closed. The kids have been getting in for God knows how long. There is not a building in there that has any copper wire left in it.
"They have damaged loads of cars by throwing things over the wall. Kids get in and run riot. I caught eight of them on Thursday. Four were on this side of the fence. Another four were trying to get under gates to get out. They were scraping their knees because they had shorts on trying to get under the gate. It has been like that for years. There is a security camera but no one goes in and checks it. Someone comes in a van and takes a picture of the entrance and goes off again.
"Marconi closed a few years after we moved in 43 years ago and it was rented out to different businesses. What happened is terrible. It is a shame someone has had to lose their lives for it to get all this attention. Hopefully, some good will come of it."
Flowers and other tributes have been left at the scene Including one that read: "Rest in Paradise Layton. Always in our hearts. Fly high with the angels. Took too soon. Love you forever. Lots of love."
Another handwritten note left alongside flowers and toys read: "Thank you for brightening up our lives. You will be missed beyond words. All my love."
And another card stated: "Thank you for brightening up our lives. The Close will never be the same without you. We will all miss you."
Officers have arrested 11 boys and three girls, aged between 11 and 14, on suspicion of manslaughter.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth has sent her "heartfelt condolences" to the family and mates of the young teen during this "devastating time". She said: "I'm being kept updated regularly by the Chief Constable and her team and would like to thank all emergency services involved in the response and ongoing inquiries."
