A 34-year-old Sunshine Coast social media influencer will face court this morning, with police alleging she poisoned her infant daughter.
Police allege between August 6 to October 15, 2024, the woman administered several unauthorised prescription and pharmacy medicines to the one-year-old girl without medical approval.
It is further alleged the woman, disregarded medical advice, and went to lengths to obtain unauthorised medicines, including old medicines for a different person available in their home.
While the girl was being subject to immense distress and pain, it is alleged the woman filmed and posted videos of the child online.
It is also alleged the content produced exploited the child and was used to entice monetary donations and online followers.
Later investigations are alleged to have uncovered the woman carefully concealed her continued efforts to administer the unauthorised medicines until the matter was detected and reported to police by medical staff from a hospital in Brisbane’s south while the child was admitted.
Morningside Child Protection and Investigation Unit (CPIU) have since charged the woman with torture following extensive investigations into allegations of the infant being poisoned.
On October 15, 2024, medical staff reported harm against the child to detectives.
Police say they took immediate action to protect her while an investigation commenced.
It will be alleged the testing for unauthorised medicines returned a positive result on January 7.
Dramatic footage of the woman’s arrest circulated in the news and social media spaces, with police travelling to an Underwood address to arrest the woman yesterday.
The woman – who cannot be identified to protect the identity of the child – is due to face Brisbane Magistrates Court today.
She is facing five counts of administering poison with intent to harm, three counts of preparation to commit crimes with dangerous things, and one count each of torture, making child exploitation material and fraud.
Detective Inspector Paul Dalton said offences of this nature are abhorrent and CPIU detectives are committed to protecting children from harm and holding offenders to account.
“Working in CPIU we are too often faced with the worst offences against children,” he said.
“We will do everything in our power to remove that child from harm’s way and hold any offender to account.
“There is no excuse for harming a child, especially not a one-year-old infant who is reliant on others for care and survival.”
Inspector Dalton said police would allege that the woman raised $60,000 between August 8 and October 15.
It is understood police are currently trying to communicate with crowdfunding platform GoFundMe to ensure the donations are paid back to those who donated.
“We’ve been dealing with GoFundMe, I understand through my investigators that they are making attempts to repay that money to the people through the kindness of their heart who have donated that money,” he said.
“And we will be seeking that money back in restitution should she be convicted at a later date.”
