Police say a one-year-old girl drugged by her mother for her social media following could have died if medical staff hadn’t intervened.
The Queensland Police Service has alleged a Sunshine Coast mother who became a popular influencer on Chinese-owned app TikTok drugged her already ill baby in order to increase her online following and generate income.
The woman, 34, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her child, is understood to be a popular influencer across multiple platforms, but was primarily active on TikTok.
Queensland Police Detective Inspector Paul Dalton spoke to media following the woman’s arrest in the Logan suburb of Underwood on Jan. 16.
She is accused of five counts of administering poison with intent to harm, three counts of preparation to commit crimes with dangerous things, and one count of torture, making child exploitation material, and fraud.
The child exploitation charge relates to the woman filming her baby in distress to distribute to her followers, while the fraud charge relates to her GoFundMe campaign which raised around $60,000 (US$37,000). The remainder of the charges relate to the woman drugging the child.
Inspector Dalton said the woman’s claims of her one-year-old baby suffering from a pre-existing disorder were correct, however, he alleges the woman used both prescription and pharmacy drugs to purposely cause the child distress.
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“We’re saying it was an intentional act to gain a benefit,” he said.
Police say the incidents occurred between Aug. 6 and Oct. 15, 2024, when medical staff realised something was wrong and called police.
“In relation to these charges, police will be alleging that between the 6th of Aug. last year and the 15th of Oct., the woman administered several prescription and pharmacy medications to the one-year-old girl without medical approval,” Inspector Dalton said.
Police will also allege the accused went to lengths to conceal her actions, until the alleged offences were detected by medical staff and police.
Inspector Dalton, who said he could not reveal the drugs given to the child, said she was tortured with pain and distress, and could have lost her life in the ordeal.
He told reporters there were “no words to describe how repulsive” the case was.
“There is no excuse for hurting a child, particularly one so young that is totally dependent on adults to care for and love them,” he said.
Police believe, from their investigations, that the woman was likely the sole offender.
The money raised from the woman’s GoFundMe campaign cannot be recovered, however, police say they will be seeking the sum from the woman once she faces court.
GoFundMe is working to reimburse those who donated to the campaign.
The child is now “in a safe place” and doing well, according to police.
The woman will face Brisbane Magistrates Court on Jan. 17.
Police will object to bail.
