Mum who is the main person of interest after her five-month-old baby daughter's death is revealed to be a top scientist - as post-mortem results set off police suspicions
Sabita Neupane - the mother of a five-month-old baby girl who was suspiciously found dead in her cot on November 16 - is the main person of interest in the youngster's death
A mother whose five-month-old girl was found dead in her cot under suspicious circumstances is a well-educated scientist who has published research papers with the baby's father.
Sabita Neupane, 32, is the main person of interest of police investigating the girl's death at her family home in Annerley in Brisbane's inner-south on November 16.
The little girl was last seen alive being held in a carrier by her mother at a nearby shopping centre about 5pm the day before.
Dr Neupane is believed to have put the baby to bed that night, before her father Sunil Srivastav found her dead the following morning.
The mother then called triple-0 saying her baby was unconscious, police said.
The tot's death was initially recorded as non-suspicious, but a post-mortem report has since indicated something more sinister may have taken place.
The mother and the baby's father Sunil Srivastav (pictured together) have previously published medical articles together
Dr Neupane is pictured leaving Morningside Police Station on Sunday. She is believed to have put the baby to bed the night before her body was found in the cot
In the weeks since the girl's body was found Dr Neupane and Mr Srivastav have both been questioned by police repeatedly, The Courier-Mail reported.
Authorities found no evidence of injury before post-mortem report suggested suspicious circumstances.
The parents previously published medical journal articles together - with Dr Neupane holding a PhD in cognitive health genomics.
The baby's gather is studying for a PhD at the University of Queensland.
CCTV footage released by Queensland Police on Sunday showed Dr Neupane, wearing pink slippers and baggy pants, leaving the Buranda shopping centre in Woolloongabba with a baby in a carrier on her front.
She waited in the car park until a man carrying a large shopping bag arrived and they walked away together.
Ms Neupane - shown in the video with the baby in a carrier - is now assisting police with their investigation
Investigators released footage in the hope it will prompt anyone with information to come forward.
Detective Inspector Rod Watts on Sunday said the baby appeared 'happy and healthy' at the shops, and 'something has happened' between then and 8am the next day.
He refused to go into details about the medical evidence, but said police are treating the death as suspicious.
'Something has happened to that child which is suspicious,' he told reporters.
'That child was happy and healthy one afternoon and the next day the child was deceased at home… this is not a natural death.'
Investigators urged anyone with information, particularly neighbours or relatives, to contact Crime Stoppers.
Detective Inspector Rod Watts on Sunday said the baby appeared 'happy and healthy' at the shops, and 'something has happened' between then and 8am the next day
Police refused to go into details but said something has happened to that child which is suspicious