Shaun Bradley Balaam: Guilty plea to interfering with baby’s corpse found in freezer by Geraldton detectives

A Geraldton man will be sentenced for his role in hiding a baby’s corpse in a backyard freezer after pleading guilty following negotiations. Detectives have previously alleged that between August 20 and 25, 2022, a Spalding couple put their stillborn baby in a freezer in their backyard in an attempt to conceal the pregnancy. Authorities were alerted when Monique Ellen Burton presented to hospital feeling unwell and denied recently giving birth despite showing signs she had. The 33-year-old was flown to Perth via Royal Flying Doctor Service for medical treatment. In 2023, Geraldton detectives issued a search warrant at the Spalding address and located a dead baby in a plastic bag inside a backyard freezer. Detectives alleged Ms Burton put the stillborn baby boy into a plastic bag and kept it in a bedroom at the house. Detectives said Shaun Bradley Balaam found the plastic bag, observed what was in it and placed it into a freezer in the backyard. The 35-year-old appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Friday where he pleaded guilty to his role in concealing the corpse. He had previously pleaded not guilty to interfering with a corpse with intent to prevent or prejudice an investigation into circumstances surrounding the death and that charge was committed to the District Court for trial. However, defence counsel George Giudice said the charge was to be withdrawn and Balaam would instead plead guilty to one count of without lawful excuse improperly interfered with a corpse. Pre-sentence and psychological reports have been ordered and the matter adjourned for sentencing in Geraldton Magistrates Court on November 4. Balaam’s bail was extended. Ms Burton is yet to enter pleas to interfering with the corpse and a number of fraud charges and is next due in Geraldton Magistrates Court on August 29.