Monique Ellen Burton, the mother of a baby discovered deceased in a freezer, has evaded imprisonment following her concealed pregnancy. The tragic incident took place in August 2022 at her Geraldton home in Western Australia, where the now 35-year-old claimed that her child, referred to as Baby Burton, was stillborn.
After giving birth secretly in her lounge, Burton wrapped the infant’s body in her leggings and concealed it in a black garbage bag behind her couch. She had kept her pregnancy hidden from her long-time partner, Shaun Balaam—who was not the biological father—maintaining her deception even after being taken to the hospital, despite inquiries from medical staff. It was only after returning home that Balaam discovered the bag and, suspecting he had felt a head inside, stowed it in their veranda freezer. At the time, Burton, still in the hospital, was unaware of this development but later informed police of the events.
This was not Burton’s first instance of keeping a pregnancy secret; she had previously fabricated stories about having liver problems to mask symptoms, including a visible swollen belly. When questioned by authorities, Burton stated her memory of the events was vague and expressed feelings of dissociation.
Burton recently pleaded guilty to a charge of interfering with a corpse to obstruct an investigation. During her sentencing, Judge Darren Renton noted that determining the cause of Baby Burton’s death was impossible due to the circumstances but inferred that the infant was most likely stillborn. He remarked on the indignity shown towards the baby, which he acknowledged would be considered deeply distressing by the community.
The judge sentenced her to a 19-month suspended prison term, citing that her motivations for hiding the pregnancy stemmed from a desire to avoid the repercussions of her actions being revealed. He recognised her expression of significant remorse and assessed her risk of reoffending as low.
In addition to the charges connected to her newborn, Burton faced fraud allegations relating to a GoFundMe campaign launched by someone else to cover expenses for her fabricated liver issues. Although she accepted over $3,000, the judge indicated that her involvement in the fundraising effort was minor and passive.
Balaam, her partner, has also pleaded guilty to related charges and received an 18-month community corrections order. The case has drawn considerable attention due to its tragic circumstances and the emotional turmoil surrounding the actions of both parents.