A stepmother severely neglected a little girl who died in “filth and misery” after months of abandonment.
Shannon Leigh White, 47, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after her four-year-old stepdaughter, Willow Dunn, was found dead at a home in Cannon Hill, Brisbane’s east, in 2020.
Willow, who had Down syndrome, was last seen as a growing toddler weighing 10kg at a doctor’s appointment in 2018.
At the time, White seemed proud to be raising the boy, but things quickly changed.
Willow has been in isolation since 2019, rarely leaving the family home and likely left alone for short periods.
She was not seen in White’s social media posts or in photos taken of the entire family.
Even the neighbors on the suburban street where the family home sits didn’t know Willow existed.
The four-year-old boy was found dead on May 25, 2020 after a family member called police.
Shannon Leigh White, 47, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after her four-year-old stepdaughter, Willow Dunn, was found dead at a home in Cannon Hill, Brisbane’s east, in 2020.
He is believed to have died two days earlier.
His body was emaciated and he weighed only 6.5 kg, half the accepted weight for his age.
Willow was dirty, had long black nails, and was missing clumps of hair.
She had such a severe lice infestation that it had colonized her chest and she had severe pressure wounds on her back and hip that were open and oozing.
Judge Peter Davis said that as the girl’s stepmother and primary caregiver, White had seriously neglected the child, effectively abandoning her.
He did not accept the defense that White was unaware of Willow’s deteriorating condition or that she had been abandoned.
During sentencing earlier this week, prosecutor Nathan Crane said White had suggested taking Willow to a doctor or hospital two months before her death, but this did not happen.
“You were well aware that your neglect was significantly affecting Willow’s health, which explains the comments you made about wanting to seek help but being afraid of losing all of the children,” Judge Davis said.
He said White selfishly decided not to seek help for the girl, which ended in the catastrophic consequence of Willow’s death.
“This is a shocking case where you, as Willow’s mother figure, have put your own interests ahead of Willow’s,” Judge Davis said.
‘She died in a state of filth and misery, infested with parasites and with open sores.
‘Even in death, there was no attempt to protect her.
‘The crime against Willow is a very serious case of gross negligence over a relatively long period with catastrophic consequences.’
The four-year-old girl was found dead on May 25, 2020, after a relative called the police. Her body was emaciated and she weighed just 6.5kg, half the accepted weight for her age.
“This is a shocking case where you, as Willow’s mother figure, have preferred your own interests to Willow’s,” Judge Davis said. “She died in a state of filth and squalor, infested with vermin and with open wounds. Even in death, there was no attempt to protect her.”
Defense attorney Paula Morreau said earlier this week that White was affected by his past experience of abuse and his mental health.
Judge Davis said that without these mitigating factors and her attempt at rehabilitation in custody, he would have sentenced her to a longer prison term.
White was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison in Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday.
She was also found guilty of cruelty to a child under 16 in relation to a second child.
White will be eligible for parole in June 2026.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
