Young mum’s tragic journey from dreamer to infanticide

The young mother who laid her baby beneath train tracks in Upwey was a respected veterinarian and avid traveller who always dreamt of having children.

Melissa Arbuckle pleaded guilty to the Upwey train tragedy that killed her three-month-old daughter. Picture: Supplied

A young mother who laid her baby beneath train tracks in a shocking case of infanticide had always dreamt of having children.

Fresh insight into the spiralling life of 32-year-old Melissa Arbuckle has emerged months on from the Upwey train tragedy that ended her three-month-old daughter’s life and left her gravely injured in July.

Ms Arbuckle was once a respected veterinarian and avid traveller who believed in keeping a healthy mind and body.

However, following the birth of her daughter she had battled a very personal struggle which was tragically diagnosed a day too late.

It wasn’t until after the young mum placed herself and her baby in the path of an oncoming train that she was diagnosed with severe major post-partum depression and post-partum psychosis.

Melissa Arbuckle pleaded to infanticide.

The circumstances of that fateful day could be no further from the family life Ms Arbuckle had once dreamt of and prepared for.

Blog posts dating back to November 2016 reveal how she had undergone treatment for a condition affecting her uterus.

Ms Arbuckle, then Melissa Germano, wrote how she was taking her health seriously with ambitions of one day having a family with her now husband.

“This trip to hospital was the beginning of my journey to start focusing on my health. I’m not getting any younger and I look forward to having a family of my own one day so I decided it’s time to take my health seriously,” she wrote.

Melissa Arbuckle worked at a clinic in inner eastern Melbourne.

The young couple’s life then appeared to be full of adventure and happiness.

Ms Arbuckle previously blogged about their travels across Australia and Japan and her passion for animals.

The University of Melbourne graduate would volunteer her time teaching young children about pet safety and responsible pet ownership and described health and family as some of the most important things in her life.

“I’ve never considered myself to be unhappy and I’m incredibly fortunate to be able to say that, but there are certainly ways to strive to live a happier life,” Ms Arbuckle wrote.

She worked as a vet for several years at a small animal clinic in inner eastern Melbourne.

Ms Arbuckle has pleaded guilty to infanticide, which refers to women who kill children in instances related to mental health issues linked with childbirth.

In court it emerged she had suicidal thoughts the day before the tragedy and had searched online about train speeds, timetables and derailments.

In her final message to her husband, she wrote: “Muffin was losing it after feed so I’ve gone for a walk with her”.

She now lives in Morwell, with real estate records showing her family home in Upwey is listed for sale.

Ms Arbuckle will return to court next week.