Key facts
- Cleveland police failed to execute an arrest warrant for Harrison Simpson for 18 months.
- Harrison Simpson was convicted of murdering and sexually assaulting his partner's two-year-old daughter, Isabelle Welsh.
- Isabelle Welsh suffered 21 broken bones and 97 soft tissue injuries before her death.
- Simpson received a minimum sentence of 27 years, and Alexandra Walker received a minimum of 21 years for murder.
- Cleveland police have implemented changes to their suspect management processes following the incident.
Cleveland police failed to execute an arrest warrant for Harrison Simpson for 18 months after it was issued in March 2024, a period during which Simpson murdered and sexually assaulted his girlfriend's two-year-old daughter, Isabelle Welsh. The toddler suffered a "campaign of violence" including 21 broken bones and 97 soft tissue injuries before her death on September 14, 2025. Simpson and Isabelle's mother, Alexandra Walker, were convicted of murder and child cruelty. Simpson also received a conviction for sexual assault. Simpson was sentenced to a minimum of 27 years, and Walker to a minimum of 21 years. Cleveland Police acknowledged the delay in executing the warrant was "far from adequate" and stated that multiple arrest attempts had been unsuccessful. The force has since conducted a review and implemented changes to suspect management processes, including improved visibility of outstanding warrants and daily reviews of high-risk warrants by senior management. Justice Norton described the abuse as "sadistic," and the senior investigating officer called the case "one of the worst" they had encountered.