A mother has been charged with the murder of her two-year-old girl who died after she went missing from her home and was found in a pond.
Little Annabel Mackey was reported missing from her house in the Hampshire village of Kingsley on September 10 2023, sparking an urgent police search for the toddler.
The ‘beautiful, positive and very happy little girl’ was tragically discovered a short time later lying in a pond half a mile away from her £600,000 family home.
Annabel passed away in hospital the next day. Her mother Alice Mackey, 42, has now been charged with her murder.
The two-year-old’s father Peter earlier paid tribute: ‘Annabel was a beautiful, positive and very happy little girl. She had an incredibly pure and caring nature that we miss so much.
‘She loved story time, dogs and her dolly. She enjoyed singing songs and nursery rhymes and had a very sweet tooth.
‘Annabel loved to laugh, she brought so much happiness into our lives.
‘She was dearly loved by her family and friends. Thank you to everyone who was a positive influence in her life.
Annabel Mackey is pictured with her parents Alice and Peter Mackey before her tragic death
Little Annabel Mackey was reported missing from her house in the Hampshire village of Kingsley on September 10 2023, sparking an urgent police search for the toddler
The toddler was found in Kingsley Pond (pictured) and was rushed to hospital in a serious condition where she later died
Police arriving at Kingsley Pond after two-year-old Annabel was found and later died
‘Please continue Annabel’s legacy by remembering her and caring for others as much as she did.
‘The world needs more people like Annabel to spread positivity and kindness.
‘Annabel, I love you so much, you are a shining star and you will be loved forever x.’
On the day of the tragedy, the alarm was raised in the village – near the town of Bordon – at around 5pm.
The following day police divers were seen searching the water.
Mackey has been remanded in custody to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: ‘A woman arrested following the death of a two-year-old girl who was found at Kingsley Pond, East Hampshire in September 2023, has today (Tuesday 4 March) been charged with murder.
Police divers from Hampshire Constabulary Marine Unit search the pond where the girl was found on Kingsley Common
Flowers and tributes laid out by the pond in Kingsley Common
‘Alice Mackey, 42, of Gibbs Lane in Oakhanger has been remanded into custody to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 5 March 2025.
‘We were called at 5.02pm on Sunday, 10 September 2023 to a report that two-year-old Annabel Mackey had gone missing from her home on Forge Road in Kingsley.
‘Annabel was found a short time later, unresponsive, at Kingsley Pond. She was taken to hospital in a serious condition, where she died on the afternoon of Monday 11 September.
‘Detectives from the Major Crime Team, carried out the investigation into Annabel’s death and her movements before she was located at Kingsley Pond.’