Donna Fitchett, murderer, found dead in Melbourne

Donna Fitchett, a mother who was convicted for the murders of her two young sons, has died just weeks after being released from prison. Fitchett, aged 66, was sentenced to 27 years in prison in 2010 for drugging and smothering her sons, Thomas, 11, and Matthew, 9, in 2005. She claimed her actions were an act of love as she struggled with depression following her marriage breakdown. She was released from prison on February 25, 2025, but was found dead in her home in Melbourne's Prahran on March 17. Police stated her death is not being treated as suspicious and it is believed she died from an overdose. During the time of the murders, Fitchett administered drugs to her children under the guise of a fun trip and later suffocated them. In letters written before the incident, she expressed her feelings of hopelessness and described her actions as love rather than cowardice. Fitchett had previously attempted to appeal her conviction, stating mental illness, but her claims were rejected in court. During her imprisonment, she faced multiple challenges, including suicide attempts and assaults from other inmates.