Courtney Gartshore: Scottish mum accused of ‘burning 3-month-old to death’ with hairdryer

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT

A mother has been accused of killing her three-month-old baby girl by allegedly burning her to death.

Courtney Gartshore, 27, is charged with subjecting baby Dahlia Rose to “sustained heat” from a hair dryer blowing hot air onto the infant’s head and body.

The tragedy occurred in September 2023 at a home in Peterhead, Scotland, where it has been reported that Ms Gartshore was under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Prosecutors claim Ms Gartshore, of Aberdeen, also wilfully neglected the three-month-old and another child on the day leading up to the September 2023 tragedy at a home in Peterhead, The Sun reported.

Ms Gartshore — also known as Courtney McCready — faces a separate accusation that she drank alcohol to excess and did “co-sleep” with the baby while intoxicated.

The culpable homicide has been charged over the death of a child, with prosecutors alleging the youngster suffered injuries so severe that they proved fatal.

It is claimed she had the children living in “unsanitary conditions” and was in “sole care” of the victim, named as Dahlia Rose, at the time of her death.

The accused, Ms Gartshore, also faces charges of possessing cocaine and the Class B drug mephedrone.

Prosecutors allege the property was littered with dirty nappies, spoiled food and alcohol.

Ms Gartshore did not appear in court for a brief hearing at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday, where her lawyer Murray Macara KC entered a not guilty plea on her behalf.

Both Macara and prosecutor Alan Cameron KC requested a trial date. Lord Mulholland scheduled proceedings to begin in July next year at the High Court in Aberdeen, estimating the case would run for 10 days.

This is not the first time a tragedy involving alleged neglect and drug use has shocked the public.

In Georgia, US, a mother was indicted for second-degree murder after also allegedly burning her baby to death with a hair dryer while high.

Police report Morgan Alyson Creel, 32, called authorities in November 2023 after waking from a nap to find her infant son unresponsive and severely burned.

She reportedly told investigators she had been using the dryer to warm the baby, fell asleep, and awoke to find him dead. Authorities allege she was under the influence of a controlled substance at the time.

Creel had initially been charged with cruelty to children and released on bond, but nearly a year later, a grand jury added the murder charge.

The Independent revealed that Prosecutors claim she caused “cruel and excessive” pain to the child by leaving the dryer blowing heated air while passed out.