Investigation into fundraiser for Alyssa Nguyen, mum accused of killing baby at Mernda

A fundraiser is under investigation after it was set up to help a Mernda woman suspected of killing her six-month-old son.

Spencer Jordan Recto was found dead at a home on Langdon Dr, Mernda.

Website GoFundMe has launched an urgent investigation into a fundraiser set up to assist the parents of a deceased six-month-old.

Police believe the boy’s mother, Alyssa Nguyen, killed her baby at Mernda earlier this month.

Donors had pledged more than $10,000 for Ms Nguyen and her partner, before GoFundMe management began their review into whether the fundraiser breached the website’s rules.

Alyssa Nguyen, 36, is in hospital under police guard following the death of her baby boy. Picture: Facebook

GoFundMe does not allow its site to be used to raise money for the legal defences of alleged crimes associated with violence.

A police spokeswoman said homicide squad detectives planned to interview Ms Nguyen in the near future.

Ms Nguyen has been in hospital since the evening of May 20, when her partner returned home to find baby Spencer dead and Ms Nguyen suffering from critical injuries.

Homicide squad detectives believe Ms Nguyen killed six-month-old Spencer, and tried to take her own life, but are yet to lay charges.

There is no allegation of wrongdoing by Ms Nguyen’s partner.

Investigators said within hours of arriving at the couple’s house nobody else was suspected of being involved in Spencer’s death.

Ms Nguyen’s family has hired a top-flight law firm to represent her, and expects she will be charged with filicide.

The online fundraiser, set up by a friend, did not mention Ms Nguyen’s alleged involvement in Spencer’s death, instead saying the couple had “lost their 6-month-old baby”.

“Spencer was the light of their lives and was deeply loved by everyone,” the fundraiser said.

The fundraiser also does not say precisely what the money will be used for, saying only that donations would “take away the stress and burden of finances from dealing with everything that’s involved from losing a loved one”.

A website spokeswoman said the investigation would look into precisely what the couple’s plans were for any money paid to them.

GoFundMe would not release any money to Ms Nguyen until the friend responsible for the fundraiser answered a detailed list of questions.

“Our team is working directly with the organiser to gather information to help them understand whether the intended use of funds is compliant with our Terms of Service,” the spokeswoman said.