Baby Boy DIED While Aussie Mum Went on Drug Binge

A woman who left her two young children unattended for over twenty hours while she took drugs has been sentenced to nine years in jail.

Natalie Whitehead, 38, pleaded no contest to manslaughter on Thursday. She was also charged with negligent acts that caused harm.

According to Matt LeGrand, the Crown Prosecutor, Whitehead left her infant son Dexter and another child in a cot with a bottle between them for over twenty hours from June 16, 2019, to June 17, 2019.

She and her alleged accomplice were high on drugs. LeGrand noted that the children’s nappy rash and malnutrition were signs of their neglect.

On the evening of June 21, Whitehead called the emergency number to report her baby’s disappearance.

Paramedics then found her at her Raceview home in Ipswich, and she was holding Dexter.

LeGrand stated that Dexter died due to malnutrition and severe neglect. The surviving infant, who was not named for legal reasons, was also crying.

The prosecutor stated that the preceding hours had been incredibly distressing for both the children and Whitehead.

He said that she needed a sentence that would send a strong message to parents that taking illegal substances can affect their responsibilities.

Joshua Fenton, her lawyer, said that her drug use had been increasing over time as she had become a victim of domestic violence.

According to Fenton, Whitehead showed signs of remorse, including her expressions on the emergency number and at the scene.

She wiped away tears as he talked about how she had struggled with PTSD while in custody. He noted that she had taken steps to address her drug and life skills issues.

She was sentenced by Justice Catherine Muir to spend a total nine years in custody. She already served three years in jail before her parole eligibility in 2025.