An Australian woman who concealed the body of her newborn in a garbage bag — which her partner later placed in a backyard freezer — has received a suspended sentence, avoiding time behind bars.
On Friday, August 1, 35-year-old Monique Ellen Burton was sentenced in Perth District Court on charges of interfering with a corpse and multiple counts of fraud connected to a GoFundMe campaign, as reported by ABC, The Sydney Morning Herald, and news.com.au.
According to ABC, the disturbing case dates back to 2022, when Burton gave birth and placed the newborn boy in a garbage bag behind a couch. Her partner, Shaun Bradley Balaam, then put the bag containing the infant’s body into a chest freezer. Burton later told authorities the baby had been stillborn.
“You acted in part to avoid the consequences of your pregnancy and because of your psychological conditions,” said Judge Darren Renton during sentencing, per news.com.au. “Your way of coping was to stick your head in the sand — to avoid and deny.”
As reported by 10 News, the judge further described her actions as exhibiting “a degree of indignity,” as well as “callous disregard and moral repugnancy.”
Burton, who was diagnosed with an adjustment disorder and was found to be genuinely remorseful, was handed a 19-month prison sentence — fully suspended — on the condition that she remains under supervision and undergoes treatment, according to ABC. The Herald notes that the sentence was suspended for 12 months and includes a court-ordered treatment program.
The Perth District Court did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for confirmation of the sentencing.
Burton and Balaam, who had been in a relationship for 14 years and shared five children, were living together in Geraldton at the time of the birth on August 19, 2022. Burton gave birth in secret, wrapped the infant in clothing, and hid the body behind a couch.
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After Burton was taken to the hospital, she initially denied giving birth when questioned by medical staff, but later confessed. Police discovered the baby’s remains inside the freezer on August 25.
DNA testing confirmed Balaam was not the child’s biological father, per ABC. He was also sentenced to a suspended term for his involvement in concealing the corpse. According to news.com.au, he received a 12-month community-based order after being found guilty of improperly interfering with a corpse without lawful excuse.
Due to the condition of the body, authorities were unable to determine the exact cause of death, ABC reports. Burton claimed the baby was stillborn, stating the child made “no noise” and “looked like a doll.” Judge Renton acknowledged the possibility, saying it was “likely” the infant had been stillborn. He also noted Burton had previously hidden two other pregnancies and that one of her children had died at a young age.
The fraud charges stemmed from a GoFundMe campaign launched by a friend who had been falsely told that Burton was terminally ill. The fundraiser collected $3,000, and ABC reports that Burton was allegedly aware the campaign would be created.
