What started as another quiet evening in a Gloucestershire home turned into an unthinkable tragedy.
Four-month-old Lexi Wilband, a bright-eyed, cheerful baby, lost her life in the most heartbreaking way—at the hands of the very person who was supposed to protect her: her own mother.
Melissa Wilband, 28, has now been sentenced to 15 years in prison for shaking her baby girl so violently that it caused fatal injuries.
What makes this story even more painful is not just the act itself, but the web of lies, manipulation, and repeated neglect that surrounded Lexi’s short life.
Cocaine Abuse and Dangerous Decisions
Throughout the court proceedings at Bristol Crown Court, a disturbing pattern emerged.
Melissa Wilband had been using cocaine regularly—not only during her pregnancy but also while caring for Lexi.
Evidence showed that she took the drug just six days after giving birth and would even use it while lying in bed with her baby daughter in a basket beside her.
This wasn’t a one-time slip.
It was part of a lifestyle Wilband chose, despite knowing the risks.
Medical evidence confirmed that Lexi had suffered at least two separate incidents of being shaken before her death.
One of those, on Easter Sunday in 2020, caused catastrophic bleeding in her brain.
Lies, Blame, and Deception
Rather than seek help or take responsibility, Wilband tried to cover her tracks.
She lied to paramedics when they arrived, gave false information to hospital staff, and deleted incriminating messages from her phone.
She even went so far as to pressure her then-partner, Jack Wheeler, into lying for her.
Wilband told a twisted tale, including faking a paternity test to make Wheeler believe he was Lexi’s father, despite DNA results later proving otherwise.
Still, Wheeler stayed and raised Lexi as his own.
He was initially charged with manslaughter, but the prosecution withdrew the charges once it became clear that Wilband was solely responsible.
Missed Appointments and Missed Opportunities
Doctors testified that Wilband had skipped several medical appointments for Lexi.
Prosecutors suggested this may have been a deliberate move to prevent anyone from noticing signs of physical harm.
Despite all these red flags, Lexi remained in her care until the day her injuries could no longer be hidden.
When Lexi collapsed on April 12, 2020, Wilband didn’t call 999.
Instead, she dialed 111—the non-emergency line—and hung up before getting help.
It wasn’t until her father urged her to call for an ambulance that she did, but by then, precious minutes had been lost.
Final Moments in Hospital
Lexi was first taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, then transferred to Bristol Children’s Hospital, where her condition deteriorated.
Medical staff offered Wilband the chance to hold her daughter before intubation—she declined.
Later, she left the hospital and slept elsewhere, even as doctors warned that Lexi might not survive the night.
On April 17, after an MRI confirmed severe brain damage, the heartbreaking decision was made to turn off Lexi’s life support.
A nurse held her hand through her final hours.
Lexi died on April 18, surrounded not by family, but by the quiet care of hospital staff.
Denial and Shifting Blame in Court
Despite all evidence, Wilband denied ever harming her daughter.
She blamed Jack Wheeler, claimed she had a wrist injury that made it impossible for her to shake Lexi, and told the court conflicting stories. Jurors didn’t believe her.
They heard how she had Googled terms like “baby screaming” before the incident and reviewed messages urging Wheeler to destroy evidence.
Devastated Grandparents Speak Out
In a moving statement, Wheeler’s mother, Donnah Davies, described how deeply Lexi’s death affected their family.
Though not biologically related, they considered Lexi their granddaughter and cherished every moment they had with her.
Ms. Davies recalled the moment she said goodbye to the baby in hospital, remembering her peaceful face and long eyelashes.
She spoke of the emotional toll the trial had taken on her family, especially her son, who was falsely accused.
“Lexi’s death has consumed our family,” she said. “We are irreversibly changed.”
Police Condemn ‘Shocking Betrayal’
Detective Inspector Adam Stacey, who led the investigation, described the case as one of unimaginable betrayal.
“Lexi should be five years old now, playing, laughing, and going to school. Instead, her life was stolen by the person who should have loved her the most,” he said.
He emphasized that Wilband had lied consistently—from the moment of conception through to the courtroom—trying to avoid accountability.
But the jury saw through her fabrications.
The medical evidence spoke louder than her excuses.
Justice for Lexi
As she begins her 15-year sentence—of which she’ll serve at least two-thirds in custody—Melissa Wilband leaves behind a trail of devastation.
The court recognized that Lexi had suffered not just one, but multiple violent incidents before her death.
Lexi didn’t get the chance to grow up, to speak her first words, or to take her first steps.
All that was taken from her by someone who should have protected her at all costs.
What Comes Next?
There are still lingering questions about how Lexi’s suffering went unnoticed for so long.
How many warning signs were missed?
Could intervention have saved her life?
What’s certain is that this case has shaken a community and reminded the world that child protection is everyone’s responsibility.
As the justice system closes this chapter, the memory of Lexi remains—an innocent life taken far too soon.