This will undoubtedly be the most chilling and disturbing story readers hear today, but as horrific as it is, it needs to be told, because this cannot happen to another child.
A gay couple stands accused of the rape and murder of their 13-month-old adopted son. They were charged months ago, and now the trial is set to begin on April 14, 2026, at Preston Crown Court.
The details of this story are impossible for a normal human brain to comprehend. And once again, this case, coming on the heels of many others like it, has people asking whether gay couples should be allowed to adopt children.
Italy has made it more difficult for gay couples to adopt children.
CBC:
Italy’s parliament made it illegal on Wednesday for couples to go abroad to have a baby via surrogacy — a pet project of Prime Minister’s Giorgia Meloni party that activists say is meant to target same-sex partners.
Since taking office in 2022, Meloni has pursued a highly conservative social agenda, looking to promote what she sees as “traditional family values,” making it progressively harder for LGBTQ+ couples to become legal parents.
Now, with this disturbing story resurfacing because of the upcoming trial, many are wondering what guardrails will be put in place to protect children. It is not only the number of cases involving child abuse and sexual assault that has people concerned, but also whether this is the right environment in which to raise children. Many same-sex couples may be struggling, and some believe that parenting and raising children becomes even more complicated when homosexuality is part of the household.
Catholic.com:
There are many reasons that we could give, such as how studies show that same-sex relationships have negative effects on children, but suffice it to say the fundamental reason is that it presents the adopted child with a false view of human sexual relationships. It teaches a child that it’s okay to have romantic relationships with members of the same sex.
But such relationships are contrary to our human good. Consequently, it does grave harm to children to bring them up in an environment where such relationships are promoted as a moral good. Rather than providing the child with proper human formation, which is the duty of every parent (whether biological or adoptive), it provides malformation.
This might sound unjust to some. But it’s unjust only if same-sex sexual relationships are morally good. In that case, there would be nothing wrong in principle with a same-sex couple adopting and raising a child. And to oppose a same-sex couple from adopting a child would be unjust.
But such relationships are not morally good. Therefore, there is no way in principle that it could be good for a same-sex couple to adopt a child. To oppose a same-sex couple adopting a child is no more of an injustice than it is to oppose a couple that has had a history of abusing children.
We must look out for the well-being of children. And since an environment where same-sex romantic relationships are promoted as good is not ordered to the well-being of a child, it ought to be avoided.
13-month-old baby boy Preston Davey was placed for adoption with a same-sex couple in Grimsargh. Within months, he was allegedly raped and killed.
Jamie Varley (36) faces murder, multiple sexual assaults on the child, cruelty, and extreme porn charges. His partner John McGowan-Fazakerley (31) also charged. Both plead not guilty.
The trial starts this month in Preston Crown Court.
How did social services think this was a safe home for a vulnerable baby?
Children’s needs must always come before adult desires.
Every child deserves a mother and father.
Praying for justice for little Preston.
Heartbreaking.
13-month-old baby boy Preston Davey was placed for adoption with a same-sex couple in Grimsargh. Within months, he was allegedly raped and killed.
Jamie Varley (36) faces murder, multiple sexual assaults on the child, cruelty, and extreme porn charges. His… pic.twitter.com/7kJpfLNPPD
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) April 7, 2026
Here are more details on the case. Warning: what follows is deeply disturbing.
BBC:
A former high school teacher has denied the murder and sexual assault of a baby boy.
Jamie Varley, 36, pleased not guilty to 33 charges relating to 13-month-old Preston Davey.
He was in the process of adopting the child with his co-accused, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, who denies four offences, and appeared at the same hearing at Preston Crown Court, both by videolink from HMP Durham.
The men spoke only to confirm their identities and deny the charges.
Preston’s mother sat sobbing in the public gallery of the courtroom as the charges were read out.
The men also stand accused of other horrific child predatory and abuse.
BBC:
Mr Varley denies the murder and manslaughter of Preston on 27 July 2023.
He has also pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of cruelty and one count of grievous bodily harm.
And he denies 12 counts of taking an indecent photo of a child, two counts of making an indecent photo of a child and one count of distributing an indecent photo of a child.
All the charges, involving still images and videos, relate to Preston Davey and are alleged to have occurred between March and July 2023.
He also denies seven counts of possession of extreme pornography, between 2017 and July 2023.
Mr Varley is also jointly charged with Mr McGowan-Fazakerley with one count of the sexual assault of Preston Davey, which he denies.
His co-accused pleaded not guilty to the same offence and also denies two counts of cruelty and one count of allowing the death of a child.
revolver.news
The investigation started when baby Preston was brought to a hospital unresponsive. He died a short while later.
A gay couple stands accused of the rape and murder of their 13-month-old adopted son. They were charged months ago, and now the trial is set to begin on April 14, 2026, at Preston Crown Court.
The details of this story are impossible for a normal human brain to comprehend. And once again, this case, coming on the heels of many others like it, has people asking whether gay couples should be allowed to adopt children.
Italy has made it more difficult for gay couples to adopt children.
CBC:
Italy’s parliament made it illegal on Wednesday for couples to go abroad to have a baby via surrogacy — a pet project of Prime Minister’s Giorgia Meloni party that activists say is meant to target same-sex partners.
Since taking office in 2022, Meloni has pursued a highly conservative social agenda, looking to promote what she sees as “traditional family values,” making it progressively harder for LGBTQ+ couples to become legal parents.
Now, with this disturbing story resurfacing because of the upcoming trial, many are wondering what guardrails will be put in place to protect children. It is not only the number of cases involving child abuse and sexual assault that has people concerned, but also whether this is the right environment in which to raise children. Many same-sex couples may be struggling, and some believe that parenting and raising children becomes even more complicated when homosexuality is part of the household.
Catholic.com:
There are many reasons that we could give, such as how studies show that same-sex relationships have negative effects on children, but suffice it to say the fundamental reason is that it presents the adopted child with a false view of human sexual relationships. It teaches a child that it’s okay to have romantic relationships with members of the same sex.
But such relationships are contrary to our human good. Consequently, it does grave harm to children to bring them up in an environment where such relationships are promoted as a moral good. Rather than providing the child with proper human formation, which is the duty of every parent (whether biological or adoptive), it provides malformation.
This might sound unjust to some. But it’s unjust only if same-sex sexual relationships are morally good. In that case, there would be nothing wrong in principle with a same-sex couple adopting and raising a child. And to oppose a same-sex couple from adopting a child would be unjust.
But such relationships are not morally good. Therefore, there is no way in principle that it could be good for a same-sex couple to adopt a child. To oppose a same-sex couple adopting a child is no more of an injustice than it is to oppose a couple that has had a history of abusing children.
We must look out for the well-being of children. And since an environment where same-sex romantic relationships are promoted as good is not ordered to the well-being of a child, it ought to be avoided.
13-month-old baby boy Preston Davey was placed for adoption with a same-sex couple in Grimsargh. Within months, he was allegedly raped and killed.
Jamie Varley (36) faces murder, multiple sexual assaults on the child, cruelty, and extreme porn charges. His partner John McGowan-Fazakerley (31) also charged. Both plead not guilty.
The trial starts this month in Preston Crown Court.
How did social services think this was a safe home for a vulnerable baby?
Children’s needs must always come before adult desires.
Every child deserves a mother and father.
Praying for justice for little Preston.
Heartbreaking.
13-month-old baby boy Preston Davey was placed for adoption with a same-sex couple in Grimsargh. Within months, he was allegedly raped and killed.
Jamie Varley (36) faces murder, multiple sexual assaults on the child, cruelty, and extreme porn charges. His… pic.twitter.com/7kJpfLNPPD
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) April 7, 2026
Here are more details on the case. Warning: what follows is deeply disturbing.
BBC:
A former high school teacher has denied the murder and sexual assault of a baby boy.
Jamie Varley, 36, pleased not guilty to 33 charges relating to 13-month-old Preston Davey.
He was in the process of adopting the child with his co-accused, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, who denies four offences, and appeared at the same hearing at Preston Crown Court, both by videolink from HMP Durham.
The men spoke only to confirm their identities and deny the charges.
Preston’s mother sat sobbing in the public gallery of the courtroom as the charges were read out.
The men also stand accused of other horrific child predatory and abuse.
BBC:
Mr Varley denies the murder and manslaughter of Preston on 27 July 2023.
He has also pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of cruelty and one count of grievous bodily harm.
And he denies 12 counts of taking an indecent photo of a child, two counts of making an indecent photo of a child and one count of distributing an indecent photo of a child.
All the charges, involving still images and videos, relate to Preston Davey and are alleged to have occurred between March and July 2023.
He also denies seven counts of possession of extreme pornography, between 2017 and July 2023.
Mr Varley is also jointly charged with Mr McGowan-Fazakerley with one count of the sexual assault of Preston Davey, which he denies.
His co-accused pleaded not guilty to the same offence and also denies two counts of cruelty and one count of allowing the death of a child.
UPDATE: Gay couple going on trial for rape and murder of 13-month-old adopted child... - Revolver News
Is it time to make some serious changes?
revolver.news
The investigation started when baby Preston was brought to a hospital unresponsive. He died a short while later.
