Australia: Queensland Influencer Accused of Poisoning Baby for $60,000 online Donations



A 34-year-old social media influencer from Queensland has been charged with torturing and poisoning a one-year-old girl to gain monetary donations and online followers. 

According to Sky News, the woman filmed the child in "immense distress and pain" to present a fabricated story of battling a terminal illness. 

Police reports further reveal that the woman defrauded donors of over $60,000 through GoFundMe, a platform now working to refund contributors.

At the time of this article, Australian authorities have not released the suspect's name for legal reasons.




A Heinous Scheme Exposed  


The baby, "known to her," suffered severe physical and emotional harm, prompting medical staff to intervene. 

Police stated that the child was "known to her" but did not clarify if the baby was her daughter.

According to Detective Inspector Paul Dalton, hospital staff raised concerns after noticing the baby’s deteriorating condition during an October admission. 

“There is no excuse for harming a child, especially not a one-year-old infant who is reliant on others for care and survival,” Dalton said.

Criminal investigators also revealed the woman carefully concealed her actions, using leftover medications prescribed to another household member to evade detections, as reported by BBC.

Despite these efforts, tests conducted on January 7, 2025, confirmed the presence of unauthorized medicines in the child’s system. 

Authorities say her social media posts falsely chronicled the child’s "battle," attracting widespread sympathy and donations.  



Justice 

GoFundMe has been working closely with law enforcement and assured donors of proactive refunds, as reported by BBC

"Proactive refunds are being issued to all donors as part of our ongoing commitment to protecting Australian generosity" said the spokesperson.

Following the hospital’s report, the woman was arrested and charged with multiple crimes, including torture, fraud, and creating child exploitation material. 

Detective Dalton emphasized that while others were investigated, only the accused faced charges due to compelling evidence.  

According to Australian Broadcasting Coparation, The accused is expected to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court soon, 

Police confirmed that the child, now removed from harm’s way, is "safe and well." 


Got a tip about a crime? Please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS immediately. 

You can also see how to report a crime anonymously online if you wish to remain anonymous.



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