TWO babies die from suspected drug overdose in Brisbane’s north where toddler Mason Jet Lee died

TWO babies die in suspected drug overdoses in the same area where toddler Mason Lee was brutally beaten by his ice addict stepfather and left to die by his mother

  • Two babies are thought to have overdosed on amphetamines in Brisbane’s north
  • The incidents were unrelated and the children came from different households
  • The tragedies have raised questions over Queensland’s Child Safety department
  • No one has been charged in either case but police say they are investigating  

Two babies have died from suspected drug overdoses in the same area where toddler Mason Jet Lee died at the hands of his ice-addicted stepfather.  

Nurses say a one and two-year-old were killed in separate tragedies at different households on the northern outskirts of Brisbane just two days apart.

The disturbing incidents have once again raised questions about Queensland’s Child Safety department and its ability to protect vulnerable children.

The disturbing case of Mason Jet Lee (pictured) shocked Australia in 2016 when it was revealed he suffered horrific abuse at the hands of his ice-addicted stepfather 

The series of deaths all occurred near Caboolture, north of Brisbane (above)

The series of deaths all occurred near Caboolture, north of Brisbane (above)

A nurse’s note said a one-year-old was found dead on May 11 at Morayfield from a possible amphetamine overdose, The Courier Mail reported.

‘We have been told he couldn’t find his mum so he ran to the neighbour’s house across the road and asked a woman to phone Triple 0,’ the nurse was quoted saying.

‘When the ambulance arrived the child was not breathing. The mother was nowhere to be found. The ambulance did not transport the boy because he had already died.’

Just two days later, a two-year-old in Caboolture was rushed to hospital in similar circumstances.

‘He subsequently passed away in Caboolture hospital from suspected methamphetamine poisoning,’ the nurse said.

Queensland police told Daily Mail Australia both matters are under investigation and that no charges have been laid.

Two babies have died from suspected drug overdoses in the same area where toddler Mason Jet Lee was killed. Pictured: Caboolture hospital

Two babies have died from suspected drug overdoses in the same area where toddler Mason Jet Lee was killed. Pictured: Caboolture hospital

Police would not speculate whether the children are believed to have ingested the drugs by accident or were administered the illicit substances deliberately.

The horrifying cases come just days after the Queensland Government finally released a confidential 17-page report into the circumstances surrounding the 2016 death of toddler Mason Jet Lee.

The 22-month-old died at his Caboolture home after being punched in the stomach by his stepfather William O’Sullivan so hard it ruptured his small intestine.

O’Sullivan and his mother Anne-Maree Lee then left the baby boy to die in his room and were subsequently jailed for manslaughter, child cruelty and failing to seek medical treatment offences. 

An autopsy also revealed Mason suffered a long history of abuse including the displacement of his large bowel and rectum, a fractured coccyx and tibia, 46 bruises to his body, mouth and ear ulcers, head trauma and various other injuries.

Traces of ice where also discovered in Mason’s blood. 

O’Sullivan was initially jailed for nine years but a successful appeal by the Crown increased his time behind bars to 12 years.

Lee was sentenced to nine years in prison.

William O'Sullivan and Mason's mother Anne Maree Lee (pictured) pleaded guilty to manslaughter after failing to get the toddler medical treatment

Mason was struck in the abdomen by William O'Sullivan (pictured)

William O’Sullivan (right) and Mason’s mother Anne Maree Lee (left) pleaded guilty to manslaughter after failing to get the toddler medical treatment

An autopsy conducted on Mason found his death was caused by the infection, but that he had numerous other injuries indicating he had been severely mistreated for some time

An autopsy conducted on Mason found his death was caused by the infection, but that he had numerous other injuries indicating he had been severely mistreated for some time

Deputy state coroner Jane Bentley took aim at Queensland’s Child Safety department when she handed down her findings in the Brisbane Coroners Court on Tuesday.

‘The handling of Mason’s case was a failure in nearly every possible way,’ she said. 

‘I conclude that the department failed in its duty to protect Mason from the risk of serious harm that he faced in the months prior to his death.

‘Indeed, it is difficult to find any step taken in this case that was carried out in accordance with policies and procedures and correctly documented.

‘The fact that the Ethical Standards Unit found that 21 employees of the department involved in Mason’s case (10 at CCSSC and a further 11 employees involved in intakes) failed to carry out their duties appropriately is indicative of the scale of the failure.’

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