Australian Mother Claims Innocence in Stepdaughter’s Death Case

A South Australian mother is currently incarcerated in an Arizona prison, maintaining her innocence regarding the death of her seven-year-old stepdaughter, Sanaa Cunningham. Lisa Marie Cunningham, aged 51, has spent the past eight years in a confined cell, facing serious charges that could have led to a death sentence. The case has drawn significant media attention after Lisa recently spoke out about the circumstances surrounding Sanaa’s death, which occurred in 2017.

Lisa Cunningham and her husband, Germayne, aged 46, were charged with first-degree murder following a ten-month investigation into Sanaa’s death from a sepsis infection at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. In February 2023, prosecutors decided not to pursue the death penalty against Lisa. In a recent interview with 7NEWS Spotlight, she revealed critical details of her defense, asserting that Sanaa’s death was a medical tragedy rather than an act of murder.

Lisa claims Sanaa had been diagnosed with early-onset schizophrenia and was prescribed the antipsychotic medication Risperdal, which is not recommended for children under 13. “It’s always been such a mystery to us why it is easier to believe that we tried to slowly kill her with this bizarre, delayed death torture story than it is to simply accept the fact that she entered into the early onset period of serious mental illness,” she stated.

The mother’s defense is supported by her daughter, Cierra, who described Lisa as a loving and dedicated parent. “My mum was my best friend and she was my rock,” Cierra recalled. She emphasized the family’s struggles with Sanaa’s mental health, particularly her condition known as PICA, which caused her to eat non-food items compulsively.

Lisa described the heartbreaking moments leading up to Sanaa’s death, stating that eleven months prior, Sanaa had posed a risk to herself and others. “She did try to hurt her little sister… Watching my sister struggle was probably the most painful thing that I’ve ever witnessed,” Cierra added. The family sought psychological help, which resulted in a diagnosis that led to Sanaa being prescribed Risperdal.

Lisa noted that after just a week on the medication, they began to question its safety for Sanaa. Tragically, 36 hours before Sanaa’s emergency room visit, Lisa reached out to the prescribing psychiatrist but did not receive a timely response. When Sanaa’s condition worsened, she was taken to the emergency room and later transferred to Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where she died shortly after being intubated.

The autopsy report revealed over 100 cuts and bruises on Sanaa’s body, prompting authorities to classify her death as suspicious. Lisa firmly denies the allegations of neglect and abuse, stating, “I never restrained or zip tied or handcuffed. You can’t handcuff a six-year-old.”

Despite the prosecution’s claims that Lisa and Germayne confined Sanaa and used restraints, Lisa insists that the messages exchanged between her and Germayne the night before Sanaa’s death reflect their exhaustion rather than malicious intent. She stated, “If you look at our lives from a distance… you are going to form your own opinions.”

Following Sanaa’s death, Lisa’s two youngest children were taken into state custody, resulting in devastating consequences for the family. Child safety worker Tami Swaim, who observed Lisa during visits with her children, expressed her belief in Lisa’s innocence. “I believe that no murder has taken place in this case at all,” Swaim stated.

In the lead-up to Sanaa’s death, there were multiple complaints made against the family, with an anonymous report of neglect filed on March 4, 2016. Investigators visited the Cunningham home but closed the case after the children denied any abuse.

As the trial approaches, the prosecution is expected to present its case, but Lisa’s legal team argues that both she and Sanaa were failed by the medical community. Attorney Eric Kessler emphasized, “I think the medical community failed certainly Lisa, but most of all, Sanaa. She was not given the opportunity to live.”

Lisa’s aunt, Denise Sweet, expressed her distress over the situation, saying, “It’s horrifying. Quite horrible. She’s lost everything.” As the legal proceedings unfold, the focus remains on the tragic events that led to Sanaa’s untimely death and the implications for Lisa and her family.