A mother of four reportedly heard her children screaming as she watched their home burn down on surveillance cameras and allegedly abandoned them to their fate, according to court proceedings. Shania Lee, 25, is charged with two counts of negligent manslaughter and one count of negligently causing serious injury for supposedly leaving her three children, Izabel, 5, Kalais, 3, and Lyvia, 2, inside the burning house.
Firefighters rescued the unconscious children from the property on September 8 last year after neighbors raised the alarm. The family had only moved into the house a week earlier. Witnesses stated that the children were trapped inside the burning house for about an hour, fighting for their lives before being rescued.
Izabel and Lyvia tragically passed away at the Royal Children’s Hospital, while Kalais survived after being placed in an induced coma. Lee, who was released on bail from Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, has a fourth child who was not present during the incident in Sydenham, Melbourne.
During a court hearing, Detective Senior Constable Christopher Mitchell claimed that Lee was aware of the fire when she drove away from the property. The fire is suspected to have started in the couple’s bedroom, and investigators believe it was already burning when Lee and her partner left the house.
Police alleged that Lee and her partner left the children alone in the house to steal a car door for Lee’s Jeep, returning to find emergency services present. Investigations revealed that Lee discussed the incident over the phone with her partner while he was in prison, mentioning hearing the children screaming on the cameras.
Despite claims of Lee’s drug use and previous legal issues, her lawyer argued that there was no evidence she knew the house would catch fire. However, authorities maintain their belief that she was aware of the danger. Lee, who has been granted bail, faces multiple charges and is scheduled to appear in court next year.