A mother has been charged with poisoning her one-year-old daughter and posting videos of the infant in distress to solicit online donations through GoFundMe.
The 34-year-old woman allegedly gave the baby prescription and pharmacy drugs without medical approval, going to great lengths to conceal her actions, said Queensland Detective Inspector Paul Dalton.
The case came to light when hospital staff in Brisbane raised concerns in October last year after the baby was treated for a severe mental condition. Police acted swiftly to protect the child and launched an investigation.
While local media identified the woman as the baby’s mother, police did not officially confirm her identity. According to Dalton, the woman filmed and shared distressing images and videos of her daughter’s pain between August and October 2024, intending to gain financial support from online followers.
Tests for unauthorized drugs, which were conducted earlier this month, reportedly returned a positive result.
The woman faces 11 charges and is accused of raising over AUD 60,000 (USD 37,000) on GoFundMe, with the platform working to return the funds to the donors.
Dalton condemned the actions, saying, “There are no words to describe just how repulsive offences of this nature are. There is no excuse for hurting a child, especially one so young and dependent on adults for care and love.”
The woman is set to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.