A Queensland social media influencer has been charged with poisoning a child, as well as torture, child exploitation and several other alleged crimes.
Police allege a 34-year-old Sunshine Coast woman documented the child’s health struggles online, all while giving the one-year-old girl unauthorized prescriptions and pharmaceutical drugs to make her sick.
The woman allegedly produced the content and exploited the child to gain donations and followers online.
Find out the news with the 7NEWS app: download today
During one of the child’s hospital stays in October last year, the medical staff reported the woman to the police.
The influencer was also accused of ignoring medical advice, and obtaining unauthorized medications, including old medications belonging to a different person, at his home to give to the child.
“The woman carefully concealed her continued efforts to administer unauthorized medications until the matter was discovered and reported to police by medical staff from a hospital in South Brisbane while the child was being admitted,” police said.
“While the child was experiencing severe distress and pain, the woman allegedly filmed and posted videos of the child.”
Detective Inspector Paul Dalton said the alleged crimes, committed between August 6 and October 15, 2024, were abhorrent.
“While working in the Criminal Investigation Unit, we often encounter the worst crimes against children,” he said.
“We will do everything in our power to keep this child out of harm’s way and hold any violators accountable.
“There is no excuse for harming a child, especially a one-year-old infant who is dependent on others for care and survival.”
Police arrested the woman at a home in Underwood on Thursday morning and charged her with five counts of administering poison with intent to injure, three counts of preparing to commit crimes with dangerous objects, one count of torture, making child exploitation materials and fraud. .
She is expected to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.
More to come. …
