Fresh details have emerged about the spiralling life of a young mother who went from being a top vet to killing her daughter in a tragic case of infanticide.
Melissa Arbuckle, 32, laid her three-month-old baby on train tracks at Melbourne‘s Upwey station in July while in the grips of severe major postpartum depression and psychosis.
But the tragedy – that claimed the little girl’s life and left Arbuckle seriously injured – could have been prevented if the young mother had of been diagnosed one day earlier.
Just five years ago, Arbuckle was a respected veterinarian and avid traveller who always dreamt of having children with her husband, Jud.
In a blog post penned in 2016, Arbuckle revealed she had undergone treatment after suffering from a condition affecting her uterus.
She wrote about how the incident had inspired her to begin taking her health seriously with the intention of one day having a family.
Melissa Arbuckle, 32, (pictured) has pleaded guilty to killing her three-month-old daughter in July
‘This trip to hospital was the beginning of my journey to start focusing on my health. I’m not getting any younger and I look forward to having a family of my own one day so I decided it’s time to take my health seriously,’ she wrote.
The couple’s life appeared to be filled with adventure, with Arbuckle sharing photos and stories about their travels across Australia and Japan.
She also previously blogged about her passion for animals and her time volunteering to teach young children about pet safety and responsible pet ownership.
The University of Melbourne graduate expressed that she was a believer in keeping a healthy mind and body and listed family as one of the most important things in her life.
‘I’ve never considered myself to be unhappy and I’m incredibly fortunate to be able to say that, but there are certainly ways to strive to live a happier life,’ Ms Arbuckle wrote.
But her once-thriving life tragically started to decline as she battled post-partum depression after the birth of her child.
Arbuckle kept a personal blog, where she journaled about her dreams of one day starting a family with her husband Jed (pictured together)
Arbuckle worked at a veterinary clinic in inner eastern Melbourne for several years
Moments before the tragedy, Arbuckle sent a message to her husband to let him know where they were out for a walk.
‘Muffin was losing it after feed so I’ve gone for a walk with her,’ she wrote.
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Mum and baby then continued their walk where they waved at trains and texted the woman’s mother and sister.
Then Arbuckle began researching train speeds and timetables, an agreed summary released by Melbourne Magistrates’ Court said, according to The Herald Sun.
Around 5pm a train noticed Arbuckle acting ‘suspicious’ near the train lines between Upwey Railway Station and Tecoma Station and activated the emergency brakes.
The mother acted quickly and laid the baby on the tracks in front of the train and attempted to lie down herself before the train hit them both.
The baby was struck and thrown under the carriage while Arbuckle was left with serious injuries.
Witnesses rushed to help the pair and helped to pull out the still breathing baby.
Emergency services arrived shortly after and found Arbuckle repeatedly hitting herself in the head with a stone.
Arbuckle sent her husband a message moments before the tragedy telling him she was out walking with their daughter
A train noticed Arbuckle acting ‘suspicious’ and activated the emergency brakes. The mother laid the baby on the tracks in front of the train and attempted to lie down herself before the train hit them both (stock image)
The baby girl died later that night at the Royal Children’s Hospital after she was flown from the scene.
The day before the incident Arbuckle shared she had been suffering from suicidal thoughts and was diagnosed with severe major postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis the day after.
Arbuckle faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday where she pleaded guilty to one count of infanticide for the incident in July.
Magistrate Donna Bakos granted Arbuckle bail to reappear before the Victorian Supreme Court for a directions hearing on December 21.
‘This is an extraordinarily tragic event and it’s tragic for many, many people,’ Ms Bakos said.
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Source: Daily Mail
