Melissa Wilband has been found guilty of killing her four-month-old daughter, Lexi Wilband, after shaking her on multiple occasions. Despite denying the charges, Wilband was convicted of manslaughter by a jury at Bristol Crown Court after a four-week trial.
The court heard that Lexi collapsed at their home in Mantley Grove, Newent, Forest of Dean, on April 12, 2020, and passed away in the hospital days later due to catastrophic brain injuries consistent with being shaken. Medical experts confirmed that the damage to her brain was consistent with multiple instances of shaking, both on the day of her death and in the weeks or months leading up to it.
While Wilband’s boyfriend at the time, Jack Wheeler, was also initially charged with manslaughter and causing or allowing the death of a child, these charges were later dropped. Despite this, it was revealed in court that Wilband had lied about various aspects of the events leading up to Lexi’s death, including fabricating a paternity test and using cocaine while caring for her children.
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The prosecution further presented evidence of Wilband’s misleading behavior, such as missing medical appointments and delaying calling emergency services on the night of Lexi’s collapse. Wilband’s deceit extended to instructing Wheeler to lie about the events and destroy evidence related to drug use, demonstrating a pattern of dishonesty and disregard for her daughter’s well-being.
Gloucestershire Constabulary’s Major Crime Investigation Team launched an inquiry upon identifying the non-accidental nature of Lexi’s injuries, ultimately leading to Wilband’s conviction for causing her daughter’s death. Detective Inspector Adam Stacey emphasized the gravity of Wilband’s actions, stating that her lies persisted from the time of Lexi’s conception through to her court testimonies, depriving a young child of her future.
Following the conviction, Wilband was granted bail and is set to be sentenced on May 22 at Bristol Crown Court, facing the consequences of her actions.