Police detain 14 children in shocking twist after 14-year-old Layton Carr is found dead in an industrial estate fire

A tight-knit Gateshead community has been plunged into grief and disbelief following the tragic death of 14-year-old Layton Carr, whose body was discovered after a fire engulfed a derelict building near Fairfield Industrial Park. In a dramatic development, Northumbria Police have detained 14 children—aged between 11 and 14—on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the fatal blaze.

Layton, who had been reported missing the day before, was found after flames tore through the disused structure on Friday night. Emergency services raced to the scene and managed to quell the fire, but it was already too late to save the schoolboy’s life.

Police have described the unfolding case as one of the most harrowing incidents they’ve dealt with in recent times. The building, part of the long-abandoned Fairfield Industrial Estate once home to Marconi’s Radar Plant, had become a magnet for trespassers and trouble in recent years. Graffiti-laced walls, broken fencing, and towering barriers have done little to keep curious or mischievous youths from entering.

As the investigation deepens, the community is reeling. Floral tributes now line the edge of the estate’s perimeter, with heartfelt messages such as “Rest in Paradise Layton” reflecting the heartbreak shared by many.

Stephanie Simpson, a close friend of Layton’s mother Georgia Dingwall, has launched a GoFundMe campaign in the wake of the tragedy. “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 ever imagine,” she wrote. “I’m making this GoFundMe to help her give him the best send-off and help take some stress off Georgia right now.”

The GoFundMe page has struck a chord with supporters, many of whom have expressed shock that such a devastating event could unfold so close to home.

Police presence remains heavy in the area, with forensic teams combing through the blackened ruins of the building. Northumbria Police continue to urge the public to come forward with any information that could help clarify the circumstances leading to Layton’s death.

Police Commissioner Susan Dungworth issued a public statement, offering condolences to the family and acknowledging the tireless work of emergency responders. “This is a devastating incident that has shocked the community. Our thoughts are with Layton’s family at this deeply distressing time,” she said.

The wider area around the Fairfield Industrial Estate has been a source of concern among residents for years. Once a beacon of industry, the site has deteriorated into a crumbling maze of hazards, with minimal security allowing easy access for children and teens.

Locals now demand answers—not only about how Layton died but also about why the derelict building was still accessible to children. One resident commented, “It’s a disaster waiting to happen, and now the worst has come true.”

As families across Gateshead try to come to terms with the horrifying events, the future of the site and the safeguarding of other youths in the area are now under intense scrutiny. The investigation continues, but for the grieving Carr family, life will never be the same.

Layton Carr’s story, etched in heartbreak, has become a painful reminder of what can happen when neglected spaces and vulnerable youth collide. The community now watches with bated breath as the legal process unfolds and answers are sought in the wake of an unspeakable loss.