Australian Influencer Charged with Poisoning Baby for Donations

An Australian influencer has been charged with poisoning her baby girl to raise money and gain more followers online.
The woman, who is 34 and lives in Queensland, claimed she was sharing her child’s fight against a terminal illness on social media. However, police say she was secretly drugging her one-year-old daughter and filming her while in pain and distress.
Doctors became concerned in October when the baby was taken to the hospital after a serious health episode.
After a lengthy investigation, the woman now faces multiple charges, including torture, giving poison, making child exploitation material, and fraud. Detective Inspector Paul Dalton from Queensland Police called the crimes “repulsive.”
Between August and October, detectives allege that the woman gave her child several prescription and over-the-counter medications without permission. They claim she went to great lengths to get these drugs and hide what she was doing, even using leftover medicine meant for another person in her home.
The investigation started on October 15 when the baby was admitted to the hospital, showing signs of severe emotional and physical harm. Tests for unauthorized medicines later confirmed their presence in January.
The woman raised A$60,000 (about £30,500; $37,300) through GoFundMe donations, which the site is now trying to refund.
Police also looked into other people regarding the case, but no one else has been charged. The woman is set to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.
-BBC