Mother charged with murder of ‘terminally ill’ seven-year-old daughter she raised $22,000 for her treatment

Doctors became suspicious after mother brought up Munchausen by proxy

Olivia Gant (Douglas County Sheriff's Office/Denver Police Department via The Denver Post)

A mother who asked for donations to pay for her daughter’s medical treatment while ensuring she achieved a “bucket list” of experiences, has been accused of murdering the seven year old.

Kelly Turner and not the multiple illnesses she claimed daughter Olivia Gant suffered from, led to her death in 2017, a grand jury indictment alleges.

The 41-year-old also faces charges of child abuse, theft and charitable fraud.

Suspicions were raised after she claimed her oldest daughter was also ill and Ms Turner was arrested by Douglas County Police last week at a hotel in Denver, Colorado.

Olivia's alleged illnesses led to a number of publicised events including ride-alongs with police and fire crews, as well as a “bat-princess” costume party funded by the Make-A-Wish foundation valued at around $11,000 (£8,500).

Ms Turner is also understood to have obtained around $539,000 worth of medical treatment for her daughters from the government-funded Medicaid scheme, while also raising $22,000 through an online fundraising exercise which she maintained until Olivia passed away.

The seven-year-old’s death was originally attributed to intestinal failure.

But when her body was exhumed last year, an autopsy found no physical evidence of that illness or other conditions that Ms Turner claimed the girl suffered.

She had also claimed that Olivia suffered a seizure disorder and a buildup of fluid in cavities deep within the brain.

Her cause of death is now listed as undetermined.

Olivia had been using a feeding tube and was submitted to Colorado Children’s Hospital in July 2017 where doctors found her nutrition was deficient.

However, Ms Turner is reported to have wanted to withdraw all medical care and artificial feeding for her daughter, arguing that her quality of life was too poor. She also urged doctors to sign a “do not resuscitate “ order for her.

Olivia died a few weeks after being discharged after her mother was given the option of taking her home on hospice care, according to the indictment. Several doctors have since testified that Olivia did not have a terminal condition.

Medical practitioners first became suspicious of the death when Ms Turner brought in her older daughter because of “bone pain”.

Investigators said Ms Turner spontaneously brought up Munchausen syndrome by proxy - a psychological disorder in which parents or caregivers seek attention from the illness of their children or dependents and sometimes cause them injuries that require attention.

"That has never been my case, like at all, whatsoever," she told them.

Authorities went on to separate Turner from her older daughter to see if the girl would still report the same symptoms.

She has not had any additional medical problems or complaints of pain since October 2018, the indictment said.

It is not immediately clear how old the girl is or whom she lives with now.

Additional reporting by AP.