Mother who left her baby to die when she went shopping sold dead child’s clothes on Facebook
A mother who left her baby to die at home when she went for a car wash later sold her dead child’s clothes on Facebook, it has emerged.
Stacey Davis, 35, left one-year-old Ethan in his cot for two hours in 27C with a fractured skull – to go shopping.
She was jailed last week at Salisbury Crown Court having previously admitted a charge of child cruelty.
It has now emerged that following Ethan’s death in 2018, the shamed mother listed his possessions and clothes for sale on Facebook.
She sold a ‘Little Man’s Savings’ money box for just £5 – something most bereaved parents would treasure.
Davis also sold a bundle of baby clothes aged 3-6 months, tiny baby clothing and two all-in-one sleepsuits – including one from Ted Baker.
Salisbury Crown Court heard how Davis, of Melksham, Wiltshire, left her baby abandoned at home alone, trapped in a warm room with no windows open.
Davis, who regularly smoked cannabis around her son, returned to the property and then began texting a friend.
She failed to check on him for at least another 30 minutes, before discovering him lifeless in his cot and rushing him to hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
A post-mortem examination found a significant head injury – a 15cm skull fracture – but Ethan’s cause of death remains unascertained.
Davis appeared at Salisbury Crown Court on Thursday and was jailed for two years for an offence of child cruelty. She had admitted the offence at a previous hearing in May 2022.
Prosecutor Simon Jones told the court that a post-mortem examination found a significant head injury – a 15cm skull fracture – but Ethan’s cause of death remains unascertained.
Under questioning, Davis told police her son had fallen out of a door and hit his head – and despite the swelling, bruising and obvious distress, she failed to take him to hospital.
“Any reasonable parent would have noticed the distress and sought medical attention”, Mr Jones added.
Forensic investigator Nicola Anderson also detected that there were high levels of cannabis in Ethan’s hair.
She said it was consistent with Davis smoking the drug around Ethan regularly.
Defence barrister Mark Ashley said his client’s case was a “classic example of post-natal depression”.
Ethan was born prematurely via C-section and required colon surgery immediately, resulting in a two-month stay in hospital.
He said Davis had relationship problems and financial issues and was struggling to bond with Ethan.