Woman charged with manslaughter over Jerome Banu’s death

A woman has been charged over a teenage boy’s death after he was found unresponsive in a Queensland home.

A woman has been charged with manslaughter over the death of a 15-year-old boy, almost seven months after he was found dead at a home in central Queensland.

Stacie Dutaillis, 36, is accused of supplying Jerome Banu with drugs.

Police will allege Ms Dutaillis was the only adult home when Jerome and five other teenagers, aged between 12 and 16, ingested prescription drugs.

She was arrested on Wednesday and charged with manslaughter, grievous bodily harm, negligent acts causing harm and supplying medicines or hazardous poisons.

Stacie Dutaillis has been charged with manslaughter. Picture: Supplied/QPS

Jerome Banu, 15, died after a mass ingestion incident. Picture: Supplied

The boy was transported to Mackay Base Hospital, where he died the following day.

Five other children found at the property were also transported to hospital for treatment. They have all since recovered from their injuries.

Paramedics were called to the Malcomson St address after Jerome went into cardiac arrest at 10.20am on September 30.

Police have arrested a 36-year-old woman and charged her with manslaughter. Picture: 7 News.

Queensland Ambulance Service senior operations supervisor Ross Vickers said the scene was chaotic, with the teenagers’ health deteriorating.

“There was high levels of anxiety involved and most of the patients had a high blood pressure and their hearts were racing much faster than normal,” Mr Vickers said.

“The general appearance and behaviour from the other children on scene eventually was one of disbelief and shock.”

Mackay Detective Inspector Tom Armitt said the 15-year-old boy had ingested a large amount of prescribed drugs. Picture: Matthew Forrest and Lillian Watkins

Blood samples collected by police from the teenagers confirmed they had a lethal amount of a prescription drug in their system at the time.

Ms Dutaillis will appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday.