Phone records reveal $6,000 fee structure in Melbourne birth death

Forensic analysis of a deceased mother's phone has revealed a structured payment arrangement that contradicts the testimony of her birthkeeper. The discovery has led the Victorian coroner to consider referring the case to prosecutors for potential perjury charges.

Stacey Warnecke died in September 2025 at Frankston hospital following a postpartum haemorrhage. She had given birth at home under the supervision of birthkeeper Emily Lal. Warnecke, a 30-year-old nutritionist, paid Lal $6,000 for support during her pregnancy. Birthkeepers operate outside the medical system and do not undergo clinical training.

Counsel assisting the coroner, Rachel Ellyard, presented the phone records to the court. The analysis uncovered a WhatsApp group chat coordinated by Lal for women interested in freebirth. Ellyard stated that the messages directly contradicted Lal's June testimony, in which Lal described her role as that of a supportive friend rather than a medical advisor. The court also heard a recorded call in which Lal told Warnecke she should be scared of the hospital, calling it a terrifying place.

Ellyard argued that Lal provided advice, referrals, and supplements, making the arrangement more deliberate than a casual friendship. She noted that Warnecke's husband, Nathan, was led to believe his role was simply to sit back and support. Lal declined to return to the stand for further evidence after the phone analysis was completed. She had originally testified under a certificate of protection, which prevents her evidence from being used against her in future proceedings.

Records show Lal asked Warnecke three times whether she wanted an ambulance after the mother delivered the placenta and lost up to 1.5 liters of blood. Warnecke agreed to the call on the third attempt but was seriously ill by the time paramedics arrived. The hospital exhausted its blood supply in an attempt to save her before she died hours later.

Ellyard told the court that Warnecke would have survived if she had been in a hospital setting. She cited medical evidence indicating that postpartum haemorrhage is treatable if identified immediately. The coroner, Therese McCarthy, will deliver findings on the death at a later date.

The Office of Public Prosecutions prepares and conducts criminal matters on behalf of the director. A perjury referral would allow them to assess whether Lal's statements under oath were false.