Woman charged with torture over ‘baby poisoning’

Source: QPS
A TikTok mum from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast has been arrested and charged with torture for allegedly poisoning her baby.
The 34-year-old also allegedly filmed and posted videos to social media of the one-year-old girl while she was in “immense distress and pain” in order to gain followers and donations, police say.
Police allege the woman gave prescription medicines to the child without medical approval between August and October, 2024.
The woman allegedly disregarded medical advice and went to lengths to get the medicines to give to the child. She even obtained old medications for a different person that were available at the house.
“Experts have described that the child would have been going through severe emotional and physical distress,” Detective Inspector Paul Dalton said on Thursday.

The woman was arrested at a home in Underwood, Brisbane. Photo: QPS
Police say she concealed her efforts to give the child medicine until it was reported to police by hospital staff in Brisbane’s south when the little girl was admitted in October.
After officers were alerted to the allegations, they tested the child for unauthorised medication. A positive result was returned on January 7.
Detectives went to an Underwood home, south-east of Brisbane, and arrested the woman on Thursday.
She has been charged with 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.
“We believe the person we have charged has administered these drugs to increase that person’s social media profile and views and thereby obtain financial benefit,” Dalton said.

The woman is accused of drugging her baby. Photo: QPS
He said the woman had set up GoFundMe pages and allegedly fraudulently obtained $60,000 in donations. GoFundMe is repaying donors and police will seek the money back in restitution should the woman be convicted.
“GoFundMe has been in close contact with Queensland Police during this investigation,” the fundraiser said in a statement.
“Proactive refunds are being issued to all donors as part of our ongoing commitment to protecting Australian generosity and in line with the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.”
Dalton called the offences “abhorrent” and vowed to hold the woman to account.
The videos she filmed for the internet were allegedly used to entice monetary donations and increase online followers.
“There is no excuse for harming a child, especially not a one-year-old infant who is reliant on others for care and survival,” he said.
“Working in CPIU we are too often faced with the worst offences against children.
“We will do everything in our power to remove that child from harm’s way and hold any offender to account.”
Asuggestion the accused woman has Munchausen syndrome by proxy – where a caregiver makes or exaggerates an illness for someone in their care – had not been raised with police.
Dalton said the infant was doing well since being removed from the woman’s care.
He said if police had not intervened, there could have been dire consequences for the child.
“It’s been described as gravely ill with the possibility of the child passing away,” he said.
Child protection organisation Act for Kids said it was an “incredibly distressing” situation.
“Act for Kids acknowledges that this is likely to have an emotional and negative impact on the entire community and may bring on feelings of anger, sadness and anxiousness,” chief executive Katrina Lines said.
The 34-year-old will face Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.
Lifeline 131 114
Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 (for people aged 5 to 25)