The devastated family and friends of Layton Carr, a 14-year-old schoolboy who died in a fire at an industrial estate, have paid heartfelt tributes — as 14 children have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
Layton was found dead inside a building at Fairfield Industrial Park in the Bill Quay area of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, after emergency services responded to reports of a large blaze shortly after 8pm on Friday, 2 May 2025.
In the early hours of Saturday, police launched a missing persons appeal for Layton, who had last been seen around 7pm on Friday. His body was tragically discovered during searches at the industrial estate. His family has been informed and is being supported by specialist officers.
Northumbria Police confirmed that 11 boys and three girls, aged between 11 and 14 years old, have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and remain in custody.
“Forever 14” – Tributes Pour In
Tributes flooded social media on Saturday night, with loved ones describing Layton as a “beautiful soul.”
One family member wrote:
My boy, my baby cousin, my Layton. Nothing will ever come close to the pain I feel right now. Forever 14. I’ll miss you sausage.”
A GoFundMe page has been launched by close family friend Stephanie Simpson to help raise funds for Layton’s funeral, stating:
The last thing Georgia [Layton’s mother] needs is to stress about funeral costs for her boy.
Investigation Ongoing
A large police cordon remains at Fairfield Industrial Park, a disused site previously known for break-ins.
Forensic investigators have been photographing the scene, and uniformed officers continue regular patrols.
Detective Chief Inspector Louise Jenkins of Northumbria Police described the tragedy as an “extremely heartbreaking incident” and asked for the family’s privacy to be respected during this difficult time.
In their missing persons appeal, police described Layton as 5ft 6ins tall, with short brown hair, wearing a black Under Armour cap, dark grey Berghaus puffa jacket, black tracksuit bottoms, a grey t-shirt, and black and grey Nike 95 trainers.
The investigation into the circumstances of the fire remains ongoing, with Northumbria Police extending thanks to the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service for their assistance.
